Back pain can impact your daily activities, making even simple tasks painful. Your spine and the muscles and tendons that support it are complex, and damage to one or more components can leave you in acute or chronic pain. Wormwood, an herb native to Africa and Europe, has a long history of use in herbal healing, but there is little evidence that it will ease back pain, and it might cause adverse side effects. Your doctor is the best source of advice for treating back pain.
Wormwood
Wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, contains bitter principles that were once valuable in treating digestive and gastrointestinal disorders, according to the "PDR for Herbal Medicines." The herb also contains thujone, a volatile oil that can damage the central nervous system when used in high dosages or for an extended length of time. Absinthe, a liquor made from wormwood, is banned in the United States, because of a risk of brain damage and death. The herb is still in limited use for treating intestinal parasites and gastrointestinal disorders, but it is not indicated for back pain.
Method of Use
For treating loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints, the "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine" suggests preparing an herbal tea by pouring 150 ml of boiling water over 1/2 tsp. of the herb and steeping for 10 minutes before straining. Drink up to one cup of tea about 30 minutes before a meal, but drink no more than three cups per day. There is no dosage suggestion, either internally or topically, for alleviating pain.
Side Effects
When taken in small doses for less than four weeks, wormwood does not cause significant side effects. With prolonged use, however, toxic levels of thujone can accumulate in the body, potentially resulting in neurological damage, including loss of intellect, delirium, numbness in the extremities, insomnia, brain damage and hallucinations.
Considerations
Do not use wormwood in higher than recommended dosages, and do not give the herb to children, pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers, advises the "Gale Encyclopedia." The Food and Drug Administration does not oversee the production of herbal remedies, so you have no guarantee of purity, quality or effectiveness. Talk to your doctor about your options for treating back pain, and don't use wormwood to treat any medical condition, unless directed to do so by a doctor.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Back Pain Causes
- "PDR for Herbal Medicines, Second Edition"; Joerg Gruenwald, Ph.D., 2000
- Cox College: Complementary Medicine, Wormwood
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
