Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Back Pain Back pain affects two thirds of Americans at some point in their lives. Spinal deformity or injury to your vertebrae, muscles or nerves are the most common reasons. Most back pain cases go away within a week. The most common area is the lower back. Symptoms Symptoms may include:
- Pain and stiffness in your back
- Pain after lifting something heavy, coughing, reaching for something or exercising strenuously
A word of caution: Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement or herb. You have no way of knowing if your herb or supplement interferes with a health condition you have or a medication you take. You do not know about the purity or quality of a supplement, and much of the research on these substances is scant and questionable. Also, supplements in high concentrations can be dangerous. Your doctor is the best person to talk with about your concerns.
| Herb/alternative treatment |
Claim |
Potential Interactions, Side Effects and Dangers |
What the Experts Say |
| Devil's claw |
Relieves low back and neck pain. |
May increase the risk of bleeding. Should not be taken by people with stomach or intestinal ulcers. May affect blood sugar levels. People who have heart disease should not take this. May cause headache, ringing in the ears, loss of taste and appetite, and diarrhea. |
Research has been conflicting. Studies have been too small to say devil's claw works. |
| Chiropractic care |
Relieves low back pain |
It is not clear how safe this is for people with or at-risk for osteoporosis. If your pain lasts longer than a week and chiropractic care does not help, see a doctor. It could be a sign of a serious condition. |
Chiropractic care does seem to help lessen the intensity of the pain. Research is ongoing. Researchers are trying to find out what happens in the body (including its cells and nerves) when chiropractic treatments are given. |
Conventional treatments Don't stay in bed for more than a few days. Get out of bed as soon as possible. Muscle relaxants relieve stiffness and pain caused by a back injury. Capsaicin applied to the skin relieves pain. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin may help. Sources: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. Health Information. Accessed May 31, 2007. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. What is CAM? Accessed May 31, 2007. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. Dietary and Herbal Supplements. Accessed May 31, 2007.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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