Back Pain - HomeoSource

Choose a remedy: No one has all the symptoms so choose based on the most prominent ones. If symptoms change, take a remedy that matches your new symptoms.

Dosage: Unless otherwise noted, at onset of symptoms, take 30C twice daily for not more than two to three days* or see the Dosage Chart.

If no improvement, try a different remedy.
When symptoms improve, stop.

Notes:

If a self-selected remedy – however well indicated – doesn’t help and your symptoms do not improve or your back pain is a chronic matter, seek medical expertise. A doctor will provide a diagnosis and if appropriate, a professional homeopath can evaluate your chronic symptoms in the context of your whole person.
If using a cream for pain relief, look for the best suited remedy listed below in the list of ingredients. For example, if pain is better with heat, this is a good indication for Rhus Tox. Look for Rhus Tox as an ingredient in the cream you want to use.

Symptoms	Remedy
Pain from over-exertion Pain following blunt trauma Are clearly injured but say “I’m fine.” If an old injury, have not been well since Feels bruised Worse: Continued motion View Remedy	Arnica montana
Chronic back pain View Remedy	Comfrey Cream or gel – 1.76 oz Comfrey Cream or gel – 3.43 oz Apply to sore back area several times daily May be used for weeks at a time If not improving after several weeks, try a different remedy This is an herbal, not homeopathic, cream.
Arthritis Pain Stiffness Nerve pain Inflammation Swelling View Remedy	T-Relief Multi-remedy formulation Follow package directions -or- T-Relief cream
Spinal nerve injuries and sciatica: Pain from injury to tail bone or spine Pinched nerves in back Numbness in extremities Violent, sharp, shooting nerve pain Screams with pain Painfully sensitive spine or neck Pain in back after spinal tap View Remedy	Hypericum perforatum
Sciatica Often right sided, but can be left Pain from injury, strain, over-exertion Spasmodic, cramp-like pain Better: Warmth Pressure/warmth View Remedy	Magnesia phosphorica
Sudden onset Severe, spasmodic, low back pain or sciatica Pain preventing any movement Stiffness, heaviness Restless Tailbone hurts after prolonged sitting Right sided often Worse: motion jarring touch afternoon and night drafts View Remedy	Belladonna
Back pain from slight exertion/lifting Stiffness Burning in neck Back feels weak Slumps in chair Tends to feel chilly Easily tired from exertion Worse: cold, damp weather lifting, exertion going up stairs Better: heat View Remedy	Calcarea Carbonica
Low back pain and sciatica Sharp, stitching pain in buttocks, thigh, foot Pain so bad at night must get out of bed Weak back feels broken and may give out Often right sided Walks stooped over Chilly, cold sweat Worse: bending back standing with erect posture night pregnancy/menses slight exertion Better: pressure (but worse lying on affected side) View Remedy	Kali carbonicum
Severe sciatica may be left sided Worse: night lying down, especially on painful side become heated pressure sitting, standing Better: open air motion View Remedy	Kali iodatum
Severe sciatica area feels bruised, fatigued, weak Stiffness or feeling of contraction of limb Irritable temper Spasms Lameness, weakness, constipation May be chilly Worse: morning the longer staying in bed turning in bed (must sit up to turn over) motion cold when constipated Better: heat View Remedy	Nux vomica
Back pain and/or sciatica after over exertion Worse bending forward Better bending back Stiffness – worse on first movement Better with continued movement Tingling, numbness in leg Restless, difficulty getting comfortable Better: hot applications, hot baths motion Worse: night sitting cold air View Remedy	Rhus toxicodendron
Low back pain and stiffness Prefers to lie on something hard Tends to suppress emotions or appear reserved Better: pressing something hard against back lying on something hard Worse: sun View Remedy	Natrum muriaticum
Bruised sensation in back, tailbone Gardener’s backache Ache from sleeping on hard surface Better: continued motion Worse: when spine jostled View Remedy	Bellis perennis
Back pain from injury or strain bruised sensation in back, tailbone, hips Stiffness, back fatigue, weakness legs may give out when rising from chair Pain into hips and thighs Better: pressure/rubbing lying on back continued motion Worse: first motion stooping sitting before getting out of bed View Remedy	Ruta graveolens
Severe, extreme, sharp back pain Slow onset Walks in stooped posture Caused by injury, sprains, over lifting Stiffness Irritable May be chilly, thirsty for gulps Wants to be left alone and not move Worse: slightest motion draft of air straining sitting turning Better: rest lying on painful side/pressure when alone cool air/cold applications View Remedy	Bryonia alba
Pain and numbness Sciatica, sharp, shooting nerve pain, tingling radiates to knee or heel Pain due to injury, strain, anger or indignation Restless Muscle cramps in hip and thigh Leg feels too short Better: hard pressure heat bending double Worse: night motion View Remedy	Colocynthis
Sciatica and numbness down to heels Low back pain Irritable Worse: night cold and wind anger Better: walking View Remedy	Chamomilla
Sciatica and sacral pain Pain mid-upper back radiates to head, shoulder, neck, chest Low back pain radiates to right thigh better walking Spine sensitive to pressure and touch Muscle contraction in legs, knees Afraid to move or of anyone approaching Worse: coughing, laughing, sneezing, straining lying on painful side touch View Remedy	Tellurium
Pain anywhere along upper back to sacrum Stiffness and muscle spasms Spine sensitive, especially upper part Radiating pain to thighs and hips “Crick” in the back Better: warmth continued motion Worse: cold damp change of weather during menses View Remedy	Cimicifuga
Pain as if mid-spine is broken Pain under right shoulder blade extending to chest and stomach causing nausea and vomiting Worse breathing in and moving right arm Worse: motion touch cough Better: heat View Remedy	Chelidonium
Severe low and mid back pain and sciatica Shooting pain and weakness mid-back Muscle twitches/spasms Spine very sensitive to touch Pain like hot and cold needles in spine Worse: sitting, stooping, twisting cold air after sex Better: warmth continued slow motion View Remedy	Agaricus
Sacroiliac joint pain pain radiates outward Lumbar pain May also have hemorrhoids Back weak, stiff back and legs give out Worse: rising from chair walking stooping View Remedy	Aesculus
Low back pain with shooting pain from one spot into legs/thighs May have a numbed, bruised sensation in back Bubbling sensation in back Post op pain in lumbar region Legs weak, numb, stiff May be prone to kidney problems Worse: standing lying sitting rising from chair deep breath motion View Remedy	Berberis
Pain in low back and sacrum Pain radiates into outer sides of thighs Spine very stiff especially on rising and damp weather Shoulder blades ache continuous Restless Worse: cold, damp weather night movement Better: warmth View Remedy	Phytolacca
Pain anywhere along spine, sciatica Pain along bottom of shoulder blades Stitching and burning pains Sore and stiff Tender muscles Worse: open air drafts atmospheric changes damp, cold, rainy weather change of position prolonged sitting bent over (writing, sewing, typing, piano playing) View Remedy	Ranunculus bulbous

References

Beer A, Fey S Zimmer M., et al. Effectiveness and safety of a homeopathic drug combination in the treatment of chronic low back pain. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. MMW Fortsch Med. 2012 Jun 28; 154 Suppl 2: 48-57.

Birnesser H, Stolt P. The homeopathic antiarthritic preparation Zeel com.N: a review of molecular and clinical data. Explore (NY). 2007 Jan-Feb; 3(1): 16-22. (Zeel has now been replaced by T-Relief, linked above)

Essential Curriculum for Learning Homeopathy, 2d Ed. Homeopaths without Borders. 2018: p. 195.

Giannetti B, Staiger C, Bulitta M, Predel H. Efficacy and safety of comfrey root extract ointment in the treatment of acute upper or lower back pain: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled, multicentre trial. Br J Sports Med 2010; 44: 637-41.

Gmunder R, Kissling R. The efficacy of homeopathy in the treatment of chronic low back pain compared to standardized physiotherapy. Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 2002 Sep-Oct; 140(5):503-8.

Grube B, Grünwald J, Krug L, Steiger C. Efficacy of a comfrey root (Symphytum offic. radix) extract ointment in the treatment of patients with painful osteoarthritis of the knee: results of a double-blind, randomized, bicenter, placebo controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2007 Jan; 14(1): 2-10.

Herring, Constantine. The Homeopathic Domestic Physician. Caxton Press, PA. 1858: pp. 339-340.

Hershoff, Asa. Homeopathic Remedies. Penguin Putnam, NY. 2000: pp. 88-100.

Huh YH, Kim MJ, Yeo MG. Homepathic Rhus toxicodendron treatment increased the expresion of cyclooxygenase-2 in primary cultured mouse chondrocytes. Homeopathy. 2013 Oct; 102(4): 248-53.

Jonas, Wayne, Jacobs, Jennifer. Healing with Homeopathy. Warner Books, NY. 1996: pp. 243-44.

Kaiser Permanente. Lower Back Pain (Homeopathy). Remedy Options. Retrieved on Aug 6, 2019 from https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=hn-2198002

Lessel, Colin. The World Travellers’ Manual of Homoeopathy. Saffron Walden, 1999: pp. 42-46.

Morris, M, Pellow J, Solomon EM, Tsele-Tebakang T. Physiotherapy and a Homeopathic Complex for Chronic Low-back Pain Due to Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study. Altern Ther Health Med. 2016 Jan-Feb; 22(1): 48-56.

*Morrison, Roger. Desktop Companion to Physical Pathology. Hahnemann Clinic Publishing, CA. 1998: pp. 356-366.

Murphy, Robin. Nature’s Materia Medica, 3rd Ed. Lotus Health Institute, VA. 2006.

National Center for Homeopathy. Find a Remedy. Retrieved from: https://www.homeopathycenter.org/find-remedy

Patel DR, Ansari IA, Kachchhi YN, et al. Toxicodendron pubescens retains its anti-arthritic efficacy at 1M, 10M and CM homeopathic dilutions. Homeopathy. 2012 Jul; 101(3): 165-70.

Patil CR, Rambhade AD, Jadhav RB, et al. Modulation of arthritis in rats by Toxicodendron pubescens and its homeopathic dilutions. Homeopathy. 2011 Jul; 100(3): 131-7.

Pinto S, Rao AV, Rao A. Lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte antioxidants and plasma antioxidants in osteoarthritis before and after homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy. 2008 Oct; 97(4): 185-9.

Schneider C. Traumeel: An Emerging Option to NSAIDS in the Management of Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries. Intl J Gen Med. 2011; 25(4): 225-34. (Note: For those who cannot find Traumeel, the same ingredients, but one are found T-Relief)

Staiger C. Comfrey: A Clinical Overview. Phytother Res. 2012 Oct; 26(10): 1441-1448.

Stam C, Bonnet MS, van Haselen RA. The efficacy and safety of a homeopathic gel in the treatment of acute low bac pain: a mlti-centre, randomised, double-blind comparative clinical trial. B. omeopath J. 2001 Jan: 90(1):21-8.

van Haselen R. Development of a Prognostic Factor Prediction Model in Patients with Musculoskeletall Pain Treated with Homeopathy: An Individual patient Data Meta-Analysis of Three Randomized Clinical Trials. Complementary Med Res. July 2020.

Witt CM, Ludtke R, Baur R, Willich SN. Homeopathic treatment of patients with chronic low back pain: A prospective observational study with 2 years’ followup. Clin J Pain. 2009;25:334–339.