You can experience back pain for many different reasons. Acute back pain typically occurs after you've lifted a heavy object or endured a slight injury to the back, but it usually lasts only a few days or weeks. Chronic back pain is persistent pain that can have unknown causes or may be caused by osteoarthritis or vertebrae disc injury. Whether the back pain is chronic or a sprain, several different herbs can help to relieve your pain and reduce inflammation.
White Willow Bark
White willow bark acts in a similar manner as aspirin. White willow contains the active ingredient salicin, a substance that is chemically related to aspirin, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Willow bark has been used in traditional medicine to relieve pain and inflammation, and clinical trials have found that taking white willow bark extract is effective in treating lower back pain, says the University of Michigan Health System. You can take 500mg of willow bark standardized extract up to three times per day to relieve back pain, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. Don't take willow bark with aspirin or blood-thinning medications, however.
Devil's Claw
Devil's claw is an herb that has been used in traditional medicine to relieve pain. Medical studies have found that devil's claw can help to lessen pain and increase mobility in people with osteoarthritis of the hip, knee or lower back, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Taking devil's claw capsules can help to reduce your chronic low-back pain, according to double-blind clinical trials cited by the University of Michigan Health System. The University of Maryland recommends that you take 100 to 200mg of devil's claw standardized extract once or twice daily to treat back pain. But don't take devil's claw if you take diabetes or blood-thinning medications.
Turmeric
Turmeric's anti-inflammatory effects can help to relieve your back pain, particularly if you suffer from osteoarthritis. Turmeric contains the active substance curcumin, which has decreased inflammation and "significantly diminished pain" in many preliminary studies and clinical trials in both humans and animals, notes the University of Michigan Health System. You should take 300mg of standardized turmeric extract each day to relieve back pain and inflammation, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center. You can also take turmeric supplements combined with bromelain for a stronger effect.
Cayenne
You can apply cayenne pepper topically in the form of a cream to reduce back pain. Cayenne has been used for centuries to reduce pain, including chronic pain, says the University of Michigan Health System. Cayenne creams typically contain 0.025 to 0.075 percent capsaicin, the active compound in the herb. When applied to the skin, capsaicin-containing cream "is believed to temporarily reduce amounts of 'substance P,' a chemical that contributes to inflammation and pain," explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although you may experience a burning sensation the first few times you apply the cream to your skin, the capsaicin cream will begin to reduce your back pain within about three to seven days.
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