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Flow acupuncture Tokyo talks about sciatica pain.2025.08.10
Sciatica is not actually a disease in itself — it’s a set of symptoms caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in your body.
What it is
- The sciatic nerve starts in your lower spine (lumbar region), runs through your buttocks, down the back of your thigh, and branches into smaller nerves that reach all the way to your feet.
- When something presses on or irritates this nerve, it can cause:
- Pain: sharp, shooting, burning, or electric-like pain along the nerve path.
- Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot.
- Weakness in the leg muscles.
Why it happens
Sciatica happens when there’s pressure or inflammation along the sciatic nerve, usually from one of these common causes:
- Herniated or slipped disc
- The cushioning disc between vertebrae bulges or ruptures, pressing on the nerve root.
- Degenerative disc disease
- Discs naturally wear down with age, making them more likely to irritate nearby nerves.
- Spinal stenosis
- Narrowing of the spinal canal squeezes nerve roots.
- Piriformis syndrome
- The piriformis muscle in the buttocks tightens or spasms, compressing the nerve.
- Injury or trauma
- Accidents, falls, or sports injuries can pinch the nerve.
- Other causes
- Tumors, cysts, or bone overgrowth (osteophytes) can also press on the sciatic nerve.
Common Acupuncture Points for Sciatica
Lower Back & Hip Area
| Point Name | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| BL23 (Shenshu) | Lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the 2nd lumbar vertebra | Tonifies kidneys, strengthens lumbar region |
| BL25 (Dachangshu) | Lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the 4th lumbar vertebra | Relieves lumbar pain |
| BL54 (Zhibian) | Buttock, 3 cun lateral to the sacral hiatus | Relieves hip and gluteal pain |
| GB30 (Huantiao) | At the junction of the lateral 1/3 and medial 2/3 between the greater trochanter and the sacral hiatus | Major point for sciatica pain relief |
Leg Pathway Points
| Point Name | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| BL40 (Weizhong) | Center of the back of the knee | Clears heat, relaxes tendons, relieves lower limb pain |
| BL57 (Chengshan) | Midway between BL40 and the heel, in the gastrocnemius muscle belly | Relieves calf pain and spasm |
| BL60 (Kunlun) | Between the lateral malleolus and Achilles tendon | Moves Qi, reduces pain along the sciatic nerve path |
| GB34 (Yanglingquan) | Below the lateral knee, in the depression anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula | Benefits tendons, relieves leg tension |
Additional Points for Radiating Pain
- BL36 (Chengfu) – Lower buttock crease, relieves hamstring tightness.
- BL62 (Shenmai) – Outer ankle, helps with lateral leg pain.
- DU3 (Yaoyangguan) – Lumbar spine level, warms and strengthens the lower back.
Flow acupuncture is an English-friendly clinic in Tokyo. Please feel free to contact us.
03-6453-6376