Natural Health: What can I do to ease my sciatica pain?

Plus: How to prevent a sinus infection

Sciatica is the term for the pain that travels along the nerve, typically on one side of the body.

I developed sciatica when I was pregnant with my first child. I used a combination of exercise and massage to ease the pain. I’m pregnant again, and the sciatica is back. Is there a safe remedy I could use?

The ovaries produce the hormone relaxin to help loosen the pelvic ligaments in preparation for pregnancy and childbirth. However, this laxity can be linked to spinal instability and misalignment, which can impinge on the sciatic nerve that travels from the lower back down each leg.

Sciatica is the term for the pain that travels along the nerve, typically on one side of the body.

It is good to hear you already have some tools in your toolkit from your first pregnancy. Exercise and massage help to ease the pain, and stretching exercises can also help relieve nerve impingement. However, seeing an osteopath or chiropractor for gentle adjustments might be even more helpful.

Another modality worth considering is acupuncture. An ancient Chinese medicine practice, it’s often used for pregnancy niggles and issues from morning sickness through to helping turn breech babies. It is important to check in with any therapist you choose to ensure that they have specific experience dealing with sciatica, as you don’t want to further aggravate your symptoms as a result of a practitioner’s inexperience.

Nutritional tweaks are thought to help with chronic sciatica by increasing dietary potassium intake. Foods naturally rich in potassium include sweet potato, tomato paste and puree, beetroot greens, live cultured yoghurt, most beans and pulses, bananas, oranges, potatoes, prune juice, and carrot juice. Keeping well-hydrated is essential for any condition involving nerve health.

If you have severe weakness, lack of sensation in your extremities, and prickling or tingling, you should see your primary care provider, since this can indicate a more serious level of compression along the nerve.

Loss of control in the bladder or bowel is a sign that you should seek immediate medical help.

Whenever I get run down, I get a sinus infection. It’s like my weak spot. Is there anything I can do or take to prevent the infection from happening in the first place?

To support sinus health and ward off infection, start by boosting your immunity with at least 3000mg (2g) of vitamin C daily and taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement that includes zinc.

Eliminating refined and processed foods from your diet can make a huge difference, along with increasing your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables — the brighter the better.

Herbal teas and vegetable broths are also valuable nutrient sources, particularly when you feel the beginnings of an infection.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a treatment worth investigating, as rebalancing the flow of energy can help alleviate fatigue and the sense of being run-down, allowing you to address any underlying issues related to your sinuses and ear passages. Acupuncture, in particular, has been used with great success, although any TCM practitioner will likely use a combination of treatments, including herbs and nutrition.

Dietary sensitivities can also contribute to sinus conditions. Dairy and wheat are two common triggers, but it is worth having allergy testing done through your GP to identify specific triggers before cutting out foods or food groups.

Specific herbs can help support your immune system, with a particular focus on the sinus and respiratory areas. Goldenseal helps heal and tone the mucous membranes of the eyes, ear, nose, and throat and is an excellent remedy to treat and prevent infection.

NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor