Back pain can range in severity from annoying to crippling. Back pain can feel like a dull, constant ache or a sudden, sharp pain. Back pain can arise suddenly following trauma or over time, due to poor posture and other factors. Consider talking with your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of herbal medications before using them for your back pain.
Back Pain
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, some of the most common signs and symptoms associated with back pain include reduced spinal mobility and range of motion, altered posture and gait and muscle or joint pain. Back pain is often accompanied by myofascial trigger points, which are small, painful nodules that develop in your back muscles and elsewhere throughout your body. Some people develop chronic back pain, which is back pain that persists for at least several months.
Herbal Medications
According to Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a master herbalist, naturopathic doctor and author of "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," herbs that possess pain-relieving properties or antispasmodic properties or both are often effective in treating your back pain. Helpful herbal medications for your back pain include black cohosh, corydalis, alfalfa, kava kava, California poppy, burdock, Jamaican dogwood, passionflower, oat straw, valerian, slippery elm, devil's claw, meadowsweet, white willow bark, peppermint and usnea.
A Popular Herbal Medication
Oat straw is a popular herbal medication used in treating back pain. According to Phyllis A. Balch, a certified nutritional consultant and author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," oat straw -- available in several forms -- has been used as an anti-depressant and restorative nerve tonic. Oat straw helps treat back pain, insomnia, bed-wetting, depression, stress and certain skin disorders. The whole plant is used for medicinal purposes.
Disclaimer
Although back pain is a common health complaint, it can have many possible causes. Some causes of back pain are life-threatening. If you experience back pain, especially severe back pain, visit a qualified health care professional for a thorough evaluation and appropriate treatment. Herbal medications may be helpful for your back pain, but most cases of back pain respond best to a multifaceted treatment approach involving herbs, dietary changes, postural exercises and some sort of bodywork, such as chiropractic care or massage.
References
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Back Pain
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Back Pain Information Page
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
