Top 8 Homeopathic Medicines for Back Pain

Back pain is a very common health issue that can affect persons of any age group. Back pain refers to pain felt anywhere between the cervical to coccyx region along the back, the lower back, however, is the most vulnerable. The cause of back pain can lie in any of these structures in the backbone including vertebrae, intervertebral disc, spinal cord, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Homeopathy offers highly effective and safe treatment for cases of back pain. It aims to treat the underlying cause of back pain to provide immense relief. Homeopathic medicines also help to manage other associated symptoms of pain like stiffness in the back, radiation of pain to legs, numbness, tingling, etc. It is highly advantageous as it does not carry any risk of dependency, unlike conventional medicines like painkillers, muscle relaxants, and topical pain-relieving medicines like creams, gels, and sprays. They only provide temporary pain relief as they do not treat the cause of back pain. Here homeopathy is a great alternative to treat back pain that provides long-term relief by fixing the root cause. With the regular use of homeopathic medicines for the period suggested by a homeopathic physician, the dependency on painkillers can be minimized.

Homeopathy treats root cause

As back pain can arise from various causes such as muscle strain, arthritis, injuries, and disc bulge, to get long-lasting relief, the cause needs to be identified and treated. Here homeopathy fulfils this objective of addressing the root cause of back pain and effects a magical recovery.

Natural medicines with zero side effects

In homeopathy every medicine used for treating back pain is natural, hence ensuring it is free of any side effects. As these are natural, they are safe for consumption by all age groups.

Individualised prescription

Homeopathy offers a wide range of highly effective remedies for back pain. These medicines are prescribed after detailed analysis and evaluation of symptoms in every single individual. The cause, nature of pain, and worsening/relieving factor of pain are all given importance to selecting a homeopathic remedy for back pain. Not just the medicine, but the potency as well as its dose is selected individually for every case.

Top 8 Homeopathic Medicines for Back Pain

The 8 topmost homeopathic medicines that are effective in back pain treatment are Rhus Tox, Bryonia Alba, Aesculus Hippocastanum, Kali Carb, Arnica Montana, Cobaltum, Colocynthis and Guaiacum Officinale.

1. Rhus Tox – For Back Pain Worse At Rest

Rhus Tox is a top-grade medicine for treating back pain. The characteristic symptom indicating its use is worsening of pain while at rest and relief from walking or motion. It is the best choice for managing back pain arising from muscle strain due to overstraining/overstretching from lifting a heavy weight or in cases of arthritis. It is also an appropriate choice of medicine in cases where the back pain gets better by applying pressure.

When to use Rhus Tox?

This medicine is highly recommended to manage back pain which is worse at rest and better from movement especially when arising from muscle strain due to overstraining/overstretching or from arthritis.

How to use Rhus Tox?

One may take this medicine in 30 C potency two to three times a day depending on the severity of pain. To use its high potencies like 200C one needs to consult a homeopathic physician.

2. Bryonia Alba – For Pain that Worsens with Motion

Bryonia Alba is another majorly indicated medicine for treating back pain. A prominent symptom that decides in favor of Bryonia Alba as the best medicine is that the back pain gets worse with motion. Walking also worsens back pain. Rest brings relief. Bryonia Alba is also the most suitable medicine for treating back pain that becomes more severe with stooping and standing.

When to use Bryonia Alba?

This medicine can be considered when back pain gets worse from the slightest movement as well as standing, and gets better by taking rest.

How to use Bryonia Alba?

Though this medicine can be used in both low and high potencies, initially it is safe to take 30C potency twice a day. Afterwards, potency can be raised after consulting a homeopathic physician

3. Aesculus Hippocastanum – For Back Pain in Sacrum Region

Aesculus Hippocastanum is a major medicine for back pain affecting the sacrum region (it is a triangle-shaped bony structure at the base of the spine). The pain may extend to the hip along with the sacrum back. Walking and stooping increase the pain. For some persons needing Aesculus Hippocastanum, rising from a sitting position is a challenge. Intense stiffness is observed in the sacrum and hip region along with the pain.

When to use Aesculus Hippocastanum?

It is most suitable medicine for managing back pain in sacral region mostly worse from walking and stooping

How to use Aesculus Hippocastanum?

It can be taken two to three times a day in 30C power.

4. Kali Carb – For Back Pain in Women Post Childbirth

For back pain in women after childbirth, Kali Carb is considered to be very effective. The pain may get worse on walking and there is a need to stop and take rest before starting to walk again. There is a desire to lie down for relief from back pain. Stiffness or excessive weakness in the back may also cause the pain. Kali Carb is also useful for back pain in women during menses or after a miscarriage.

When to use Kali Carb?

It is the best choice of medicine to manage back pain occurring in women after childbirth.

How to use Kali Carb?

It works most wonderfully in 30C potency that can be taken twice a day.

5. Arnica Montana – For Back Pain from Injury

For treating back pain arising from injury, Arnica Montana is rated as one of the best treatment options. Back pain arising from falls or blows – of both recent and remote origin – responds wonderfully well to these medicines. Persons needing Arnica Montana have sore, bruised pain in the back after being beaten. This may be attended with lameness in the back.

When to use Arnica Montana?

It is a leading homeopathic medicine to manage cases of backache that result from an injury like a fall or a blow on the back.

How to use Arnica Montana?

Both low and high potencies of this medicine work well, however, it is advised to begin with low potency during the initial days. Arnica 30C potency can be taken twice or thrice a day.

6. Cobaltum– For Back Pain from Sitting

Cobaltum is used where pain in the back is worse in the sitting position. The pain usually radiates from the lower back down the legs and feet. Weakness in the legs may be felt. Walking may relieve the back pain.

When to use Cobaltum?

This medicine can be used when the back pain gets bad in the sitting position.

How to use Cobaltum?

A person may use this medicine in 30C potency once a day.

7. Colocynthis– For Lower Back Pain Radiating Down Lower Limbs

Colocynthis is a very effective medicine for back pain radiating down the legs. Colocynthis is helpful for back pain radiating down the limbs on the left side. The person needing Colocynthis may get relief by applying pressure on the affected areas. The pain can be tearing or drawing in nature.

When to use Colocynthis?

The key indicating feature of using this medicine is pain in the lower back that extends down to the lower limbs.

How to use Colocynthis?

It is advised to take Colocynth 30C two to three times a day as per symptom severity.

8. Guaiacum Officinale – For Back Pain in Cervical (neck) Region

The most effective medicine for treating cervical back pain is Guaiacum Officinale. The symptoms for the use of Guaiacum Officinale are pain and stiffness in the cervical back and shoulders. Pain may also extend to the back of the head. The shoulders may be sensitive to touch.

When to use Guaiacum Officinale?

This medicine can be given to persons who experience pain in cervical back i.e. neck area, that radiates to the shoulders, and the back of the head most of the time with stiffness in the neck.

How to use Guaiacum Officinale?

This medicine is preferred in 30C potency and can be taken twice or thrice a day.

What other symptoms may show up with back pain?

In back pain, upper, middle or lower back may be affected. The upper back includes the cervical (neck) region; mid-back includes the dorsal region; and the lower back includes the lumbar, sacral and coccyx region. A major symptom that may accompany the pain is stiffness of the back. In case of pain in the cervical back, the pain may radiate from the neck down the arms. This may be attended with numbness, and tingling in hands. The pain from the lower back may radiate down the lower limbs. This may also be attended with numbness, tingling and increased sensitivity in lower limbs. Other symptoms may include weakness in the back, lower limbs or upper limbs.

Causes behind back pain

Among the various causes behind back pain, the major ones include disc bulge, osteoarthritis, muscle strain, trauma, degenerative disc disease, ankylosing spondylitis, an infection in spine and kidney stones. Disc bulge refers to slipping of the intervertebral disc from its place. Osteoarthritis of the back refers to degenerative changes in the bones, disc, cartilage or joint of back. Muscle strain refers to overstretching of muscle arising from overuse, fatigue or lifting heavy weights. Degenerative disc disease refers to damage, dryness or breakage of the intervertebral disc mainly because of age-related wear and tear or from injury. Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder affecting joints in spine mostly starting from sacroiliac joints. Besides above weight lifting, improper posture when sitting / lying, being overweight, lack of exercise all predispose to back pain.

Investigations to Diagnose Back pain

Back pain investigation includes X-ray, MRI and CT scan. X-ray may reveal arthritis and any break in bone. MRI and CT scan diagnose changes in the disc, muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the back.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are elders more prone to back pain?

Back pain can affect a person of any age group. However, back pain from degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis is most common in elderly people as these arise from age-related degenerative changes.

2. I have lower back pain that radiates down my legs, what could be the cause?

Lower back pain radiating down the lower limbs basically indicates sciatica which may arise from compression, pinching or irritation of the sciatic nerve in the back. The various causes of sciatica include spinal stenosis, disc bulge, disc degeneration, bone spurs, and spondylolisthesis.

3. What could be the reason for my cervical back pain radiating down the arms?

Pain in the cervical back that radiates down to the arms could be caused by pinching of nerves in the cervical region. Nerves in the cervical region could get pinched due to a disc bulge, herniated disc, cervical spondylosis, bone spurs, and spinal stenosis.

4. Can’t exercise/physiotherapy cure back pain?

Physiotherapy does play an important role in managing back pain, but to completely cure back pain. But to get it cured a proper evaluation and treatment are needed. Both physiotherapy and medicines must go hand in hand for effective results.

5. Does back pain indicate a serious condition?

In most cases, back pain does not indicate a serious condition and does not require urgent medical aid. However, bowel/bladder incontinence or progressive weakness in legs together with back pain needs urgent attention as it may be an indication of the cauda equina syndrome, which is an emergency condition.