Natural Herbal Remedies for Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common ailments that send people to doctors and chiropractors. The pain may result from injury to the muscles, tendons or ligaments that surround the spine, or it can occur in the spine itself, as in a misaligned vertebra or a herniated disc (a condition in which the pulp of the disc between two vertebrae bulges and irritates nearby nerves).

Acute and Chronic

• Lower back pain often comes on suddenly if you twist your body or try to lift a heavy object. If the pain lasts several days to a few weeks, it is considered acute; if it continues for months, it is chronic. In the past, doctors recommended bed rest for back pain sufferers, but staying in bed could actually make matters worse.

Natural Remedies

• These remedies can be found in health food stores, are generally safe and can be taken as long as symptoms persist.

  Devil's claw is an African root that helps reduce muscle pain and inflammation. For acute pain, take 800 mg three times a day of concentrated extract capsules. Take these capsules for up to two weeks. If your pain is chronic, take 200 to 400 mg three times a day for up to eight weeks. Do not use devil's claw if you are taking a blood thinner, such as aspirin or warfarin, or if you have heartburn, gastritis or gallstones.

  White willow bark extract is a useful remedy for arthritis, headaches and muscle aches, as well as chronic lower back pain. The recommended dosage is extract that contains 240 mg of the compound salicin. Aspirin is made from acetylsalicylic acid, which has many of the same properties as salicin, but aspirin can cause side effects, such as gastrointestinal ailments and kidney damage. Like aspirin, white willow bark extract should never be given to children under age 12 because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.

  Rhus tox is a homeopathic remedy derived from poison ivy. Take two pellets four times a day.

  St. John's Wort oil is an herbal oil that can help ease nerve pain. Rub a small amount over the painful area two times a day.

  Arnica Montana is an herb that can be used both as a topical cream or gel applied to the affected area, and as a pill, usually dissolved under the tongue.

Warnings

• Lower back pain can also be caused by such conditions as osteoporosis or kidney problems, so see your physician if the pain persists for more than a week. If your back pain is accompanied by other symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, weakness in the legs, pain that spreads to the jaw, shoulders and arms, and loss of bladder or bowel control, call 911 immediately. You could be having a heart attack or have a spinal injury.