Homeopathic medicine, treatment and remedies for Back Pain

• Aesculus Hippocastanum
  Common name: Horse Chestnut
  Symptoms: This remedy is administered to individuals presenting the following symptoms:
  • Sadness and depression
  • Mood swings such as anger bursts and inability to concentrate on various tasks
  • Persistent pain in the back which extends to the hips
  • Backache, which gets worse upon walking or stooping forward
  • Pain between the shoulders
  • Feeling weak in the spine
  • Pain in the right side of the chest
  • Back pain radiating upwards to the shoulders, arms, and fingers
  • Difficulty in walking
  • Weakness
  • Swelling in lower limbs
  • Presence of other accompanying conditions such as haemorrhoids
  • Lower back pain that is aggravated upon movement
• Arnica Montana
  Common name: Leopard’s Bane
  Symptoms: This remedy is often administered to individuals who have lower back pain as a result of some minor injury, Leopard's bane has been proven to reduce inflammation to a significant extent. It is best suited to individuals who have the following symptoms:
  • Oversensitivity
  • Inactivity
  • Tenderness or soreness all over the body
  • Swelling in joints and muscles
  • Aversion to milk and meat
  • Excessive thirst
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Sleep problems due to pain
  • Ringing in ear
  • Pain in the back due to injury
  • The abovementioned symptoms are known to get worse upon slightest touch and motion. Damp and cold weather can also aggravate symptoms.
  • Symptoms get better upon taking rest and lying down
• Bryonia Alba
  Common name: Wild Hops
  Symptoms: The following symptoms may be present in the individuals requiring this remedy:
  • Shooting pain in the back and loins
  • Stiffness and tightness in the back which hinders movement
  • Improper posture and walking pattern due to back pain
  • Stiffness in neck
  • Excessive sweating
  • Cracking in the hip joint when walking
  • Shooting pain in the feet, along with, swelling and inflammation
  • Pulling sensation all over the body along with trembling of the limbs
  • Uncontrollable yawning
  • Restless sleep and drowsiness
  • Pain in the abdomen when breathing
  • Coughing
  • Pain in the right shoulder
  • Burning sensation in arms and legs
  • Back pain upon the slightest movement
  • Sharp and excruciating pain in the upper back
• Calcarea carbonica
  Common name: Carbonate of Lime
  Symptoms: The remedy is suited to people who are prone to getting tired easily and suffer from inflammatory conditions. The following symptoms are presented by individuals requiring Calcarea carbonica:
  • Mood symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness
  • Shooting pain in the back and shoulder blade
  • Back pain, which gets triggered during the night
  • Pain in the lower back, especially when riding a vehicle
  • Swelling and pain in the spine region
  • Swelling in neck, along with, stiffness and rigidity
  • Pressing pain in the back and shoulders when moving
  • Pain in arms during night
  • Swelling in hands, along with, excessive sweating in palms
  • Feeling heaviness in legs
  • Tearing and stinging sensation in legs and  knees
  • Leg cramps
  • Contractions of the toes
  • Shooting pain in limbs and  back during weather changes
  • Heaviness in groin
  • Feeling cold in the stomach
• Calcarea phosphoricum
  Common name:Cell salt, phosphate of lime
  Symptoms: Calcarea phosphorica is suggested for the treatment of the following symptoms:
  • Stiffness in the neck and back muscles
  • Violent pain in the back
  • Cramps in the neck area
  • Aching in limbs
  • Weakness in legs
  • Numbness in lower limbs
  • Tiredness
  • Joint pain
  • Constant stretching and yawning
  • Frequent shuddering
  • Night sweats
  • Back pain, which gets better during summers but gets worse during the colder months
  • Vague aching in bones. 
• Dulcamara
  Common name: Bitter Sweet
  Symptoms: Dulcamara is a well-known remedy, which is used for resolving the following symptoms:
  • Stiffness across the neck and shoulders
  • Neck pain, which gets worse during cold
  • Severe pain in the lumbar region of the back
  • Shooting back pains during night when trying to change position
  • Experiencing a pulling sensation in shoulders, loins, and arms
  • Swelling in legs
  • Dry skin
  • Tendency to have fever during evenings
  • Sensation of heat and burning in the back
  • Sleep difficulties due to backache
  • Changing positions frequently during sleep due to back pain
  • Stomach pain
  • Back pain during winters or due to weather changes.
  • Constipation and difficulty in passing stools
  • Symptoms get worse typically during the night time and in humid weather. Movement and external warmth improves the symptoms.
• Ignatia Amara
  Common name: St. Ignatius Bean
  Symptoms: This remedy works well for individuals who suffer from back pain due to stress and anxiety.  Ignatia is recommended to patients with the following symptoms:
  • Stiffness and rigidity in the nape of the neck
  • Pulling sensation and cramps in the back
  • Pain in glands of neck
  • Forward bending of the back
  • Pain in the back when bending backwards
  • Pain in thighs
  • Sciatica
  • Throbbing sensation and tightness in chest
  • Coldness in feet and legs
  • Swelling of lower limbs
  • Tearing pain in the posterior portion of thighs
  • Heaviness in limbs
  • Toothache after meals
  • Ringing in ears and difficulty in hearing
  • Feeling heaviness in head  
  • Frequent anxiety
• Kali Carbonicum
  Common name: Carbonate of Potassium
  Symptoms: Kali Carbonica can be an effective remedy for treating the following symptoms:
  • Exhaustion in back muscles
  • Stiffness in the back
  • Severe backache, especially in pregnant women
  • Pain in thighs and hip joint
  • Pain in loins
  • Burning pain on the right side of the spine
  • Pain in the back even while resting
  • Pressure in the kidney region
  • Stiffness in neck muscles
  • Excessive sweating in armpits
  • Swelling in shoulders
  • Trembling of hands
  • Swelling in legs and feet
  • Numbness in feet
  • Jerking of muscles of buttocks and thighs
  • Dry skin
  • Pain in different parts of the body upon movement
  • Drowsiness and yawing with improper sleep
  • Reluctance to engage in physical activity
  • Anxiety and frequent mood changes
  • Lower back pain, along with, pain in knees.
• Natrum muriaticum
  Common name: Chloride of Sodium
  Symptoms: Chloride of sodium can be administered as a homeopathic remedy for addressing the following symptoms:
  • Rigidity in the nape of the neck
  • Goitre
  • Pain in the back during night
  • Pain in the spine which gets triggered with the slightest activity
  • Back pain on the side on which the person is lying, which gets better when lying on a hard surface
  • Feeling pressure on the back
  • Numbness in feet
  • Trembling in body
  • Feeling congested in the head and chest
  • Jerking pain in limbs
  • Rigidity in joints
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Constipation
  • Loss of appetite
• Nux Vomica
  Common name: Poison nut
  Symptoms: Nux vomica is a widely used remedy for many health conditions. Patients requiring  nux vomica are likely to experience the following symptoms:
  • Pain in the lumbar region of back, which gets worse in dry and cold weather
  • Burning sensation in spine
  • Back pain due to sitting for a prolonged period of time
  • The person needs to sit up in the bed first in order to be able to change positions
  • Arms and hands may become numb frequently
  • Cracking in knees and joints during motion
  • Tiredness in limbs
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Drowsiness after eating
  • Nausea in the morning after eating
  • Irritability
  • Intolerance to loud noises and bright lights
  • Constricting back pain, which gets worse during night or in case of  constipation 

Do’s

• It is imperative to maintain personal hygiene as much as possible.
• Keep your surroundings clean and well sanitised.
• One must refrain from consuming processed foods such as canned products, ready to eat meals, and fried snacks.
• It is recommended to maintain an active lifestyle by engaging in daily exercise or yoga.
• Wearing comfortable and loose clothes will help in keeping the body well ventilated thus preventing disease.

Don’ts

• Drinks such as coffee, tea, alcohol, and other stimulating beverages must be avoided as they can interfere with the action of homeopathic remedies.
• Spicy food items or foods which are high in sugar and salt content must also be avoided.
• Garlic and onions are very strong stimulants and hence, must not be consumed daily.
• Avoid using artificially scented soaps, cosmetics, and perfumes as they can cause irritation.
• Refrain from being exposed to air condition for too long.
• Avoid wearing body-hugging clothes which stick on the skin or are too tight. 

Allopathic treatment for back pain involves the use of pain-relieving drugs, which may prove to be helpful in providing immediate relief but are usually associated with side effects in the long-term. In contrast to this, homeopathic remedies have been quite popular and widely appreciated for relieving back pain. This is because, homeopathic treatment comprises remedies which are naturally derived and provide lasting relief. Also, homeopathic treatment is completely safe and does not have any side effects. The two principles of homeopathy focus upon the law of similar (like cures like) and individualisation. This means that substances that produce symptoms in healthy individuals may be effective in the treatment of the same symptoms when used in lower doses.

Several studies indicate the efficacy of homeopathic treatments in relieving backache. A study conducted on 248 individuals suffering from back pain found that the homeopathic drug combination Lymphdiaral Basistrofren can improve the symptoms of chronic lower back pain.

Another study conducted with the objective of evaluating the effects of individualised homeopathic treatment concluded that it can be an effective approach to treating lower back pain and improving the quality of life. The remedies presented in the following sections are widely used in order to get relief from backache.

Homeopathic remedies are only provided after sufficient dilution in order to prevent any side effects. This makes these remedies very safe. However, self-medication has to be avoided at all costs and one must only begin homeopathic treatment under the supervision of a certified physician. In case of any side effects, a doctor must be consulted immediately.

Acute back pain, especially in the lower back is a common condition affecting a wide range of population regardless of gender and age. Back pain may occur due to bad posture and muscle wear and tear or it may be a symptom of a health condition, which when not treated on time may have an impact on one’s daily life. The right approach to solving this health issue would be to tackle the root cause and that is the primary goal of homeopathy. Managing back pain symptoms with the use of homeopathic remedies can be very helpful in providing long-term relief from this condition and preventing relapse.