Dr. Arken Aikebaier DOM, L,Ac  Posted: 3/8/2026 

Sciatica is pain caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. The nerve starts in the lower back, travels through the buttock, and goes down the back of the leg to the foot.

Common Symptoms

• Sharp or burning pain from the lower back to the leg

• Pain in the buttock or hip

• Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot

• Weakness in the leg

• Pain worse when sitting or bending
  
  

Common Causes

Sciatica can happen when the nerve is irritated by:

• Herniated disc

• Bulging disc

• Spinal stenosis

• Piriformis muscle tightness

• Muscle spasm in the lower back

• Long sitting or poor posture

How Acupuncture Helps Sciatica

Acupuncture is widely used for low back and sciatic nerve pain. It may help by:

1. Reducing inflammation around the nerve

2. Relaxing tight muscles in the back and hip

3. Improving blood circulation to the nerve

4. Triggering endorphin release (natural pain relief)

5. Improving nerve function

Many patients feel improvement after 3–6 treatments, depending on severity.

Common Acupuncture Points for Sciatica

Practitioners often use points along the Bladder and Gallbladder meridians, which run along the same pathway as the sciatic nerve.

Local Points

• BL23 (Shenshu) – supports lower back

• BL25 (Dachangshu) – lumbar pain

• GB30 (Huantiao) – major point for sciatica

• BL36 (Chengfu) – buttock pain

• BL40 (Weizhong) – back pain relief

Distal Points

• BL60 (Kunlun) – sciatica & back pain

• GB34 (Yanglingquan) – nerve & tendon pain

• BL57 (Chengshan) – calf pain

Trigger / Motor Points

• Piriformis muscle

• Gluteus medius

• Quadratus lumborum

These help release muscle compression around the nerve.

Common Treatment Plan

Typical treatment may include:

• Acupuncture

• Electro-acupuncture

• Cupping therapy

• Manual therapy / trigger point release

• Heat therapy or moxibustion

Frequency often starts:

2–3 treatments per week for 2–3 weeks, then taper as pain improves.

Example Case

Patient: 42-year-old office worker
Symptoms: Right buttock pain radiating to calf, worse when sitting.

Treatment used: GB30, BL25, BL40, BL60, Piriformis trigger point

Result: Pain reduced 70% after 4 treatments and normal sitting returned within 2 weeks.

 Many clinical studies show acupuncture can help low back pain and sciatica, especially when combined with stretching and manual therapy.

Acupuncture + Cupping, Guasha therapy, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, and San Diego