Cruralgia manifests itself as intense pain which can radiate from the buttock to the foot via the front of the thigh and the inner side of the knee. This pain can be very debilitating. In addition to medical treatments (analgesics, anti-inflammatories), there are natural tips to relieve it. Find out what grandmother’s remedies are to soothe cruralgia.
Essential oils to relieve cruralgia
Certain essential oils have a particularly appreciable analgesic effect in cases of cruralgia, informs the magazine vertebre.com. Please note that essential oils are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as children under 6 years old. It is therefore always preferable to seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist before using them. Essential oils are used externally here, as massage oil. For better penetration of the essential oil, it is recommended to dilute it in vegetable oil. Among the essential oils recommended in cases of cruralgia:
- Wintergreen essential oil: this essential oil is anti-inflammatory, but also anti-rheumatic and has a warming effect on the skin. It is therefore particularly indicated in cases of cruralgia or sciatica to relax the muscles and soothe the pain.
- Peppermint essential oil: it contains 30% menthol, which will inhibit pain receptors and therefore provide relief to the thigh.
- Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: it contains a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic, citronella, at 80%. It therefore soothes muscle pain and joint pain.
Heat to soothe cruralgia
Heat has analgesic and relaxing properties, specifies the Parisian Back Institute. You can use a hot compress, a hot water bottle or even a heating belt. You then apply it to the lumbar region, for 10 to 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. Heat helps relax muscles that have become stiff following compression of the crural nerve. Furthermore, heat stimulates the production of endorphins, which in turn reduce the sensation of pain.
Soothing stretches specific to cruralgia
The website of the Dos & Posture physiotherapy practice (Paris 1er Les Halles) offers several exercises, recommended by a physiotherapist, to relieve cruralgia. These are simple exercises, to be performed while lying on your back.
- Exercise 1: in the case of left cruralgia, for example, you must lie on your back with both legs bent. Then bend the left knee and bring the left thigh to the stomach, holding the left leg in this position with your hand for 30 seconds. If the cruralgia is on the right, carry out the same exercise with the right leg this time.
- Exercise 2: once lying on your back, you must bend both legs, then bring both thighs to your stomach and hold the painful thigh (left or right) with your hand in this position for 30 seconds.
- Exercise 3: for this exercise, you must lie on your back with your non-painful leg hanging in the air. Then bring the painful leg towards you, bent, bringing the thigh closer to the stomach. Hold this position for about 30 seconds.
Anti-inflammatory foods against cruralgia
Both ginger and turmeric are known to be powerful natural anti-inflammatories. They are therefore recommended in cases of cruralgia. You can infuse ginger root or turmeric for 5 minutes in simmering water, then drink a cup of infusion three times a day, to benefit from an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Other foods should also be favored in your menus, due to their richness in antioxidants and/or anti-inflammatories. These foods are leafy green vegetables (chard, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, etc.), fish rich in omega-3 (salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, tuna), berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc.) or even walnuts and almonds.
Medicinal plants to combat cruralgia
Medicinal plants can be a natural solution to your pain, particularly in cases of cruralgia. Arnica is therefore very useful in herbal medicine to soothe pain emanating from the crural nerve. This plant can be used either in the form of essential oil, cream, homeopathic granules (arnica montana) or even infusion. Another plant popular for relieving cruralgia is devil’s claw or harpagophytum. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and can be consumed in the form of an infusion, mother tincture or even capsules.
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Read also :
⋙ Sciatica: what solutions to relieve pain?
⋙ Focus on cruralgia, not to be confused with sciatica
⋙ When my nerves hurt, what do I do?