Lumbago
If you've ever groaned, "Oh, my aching back!", you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.
Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse.
If your back pain is severe or doesn't improve after three days, you should call your health care provider. You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury.
Treatment for back pain depends on what kind of pain you have, and what is causing it. It may include hot or cold packs, exercise, medicines, injections, complementary treatments, and sometimes surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Felter's Materia Medica on Lumbago
BELLADONNA (Atropa belladonna)ATROP
The (1) dried root and the (2) dried leaves and tops of Atropa Belladonna, Linné (Nat. Ord. Solanaceae). Europe and Central Asia; also... / ...ent boils, buboes, hemorrhoids and fissures, inflamed glands, and in neuralgia, chronic rheumatism, lumbago, myalgia, pleurodynia, the chest pains of pulmonary tuberculosis, and in acute mastitis. In ...1
The (1) dried root and the (2) dried leaves and tops of Atropa Belladonna, Linné (Nat. Ord. Solanaceae). Europe and Central Asia; also... / ...ent boils, buboes, hemorrhoids and fissures, inflamed glands, and in neuralgia, chronic rheumatism, lumbago, myalgia, pleurodynia, the chest pains of pulmonary tuberculosis, and in acute mastitis. In ...1
CAPSICUM
The ripe fruit, dried, of Capsicum frutescens, Linné (Nat. Ord. Solanaceae). Tropical America; also cultivated in most tropical countries. Dose,... / ...art or the capsicum plaster may give relief to so-called chronic rheumatic pains, and be applied in lumbago, pleurodynia and intercostal neuralgia. A stupe of hot water and capsicum applied to the nap...1
The ripe fruit, dried, of Capsicum frutescens, Linné (Nat. Ord. Solanaceae). Tropical America; also cultivated in most tropical countries. Dose,... / ...art or the capsicum plaster may give relief to so-called chronic rheumatic pains, and be applied in lumbago, pleurodynia and intercostal neuralgia. A stupe of hot water and capsicum applied to the nap...1
COLOCYNTHIS
The dried, peeled pulp of the fruit of Citrullus Colocynthis (Linné,) Schrader. (Nat. Ord. Cucurbitaceae.) Mediterranean basin of Europe, Asia,... / ...n the stomach and bowel perversions named above it is often corrected by colocynth. In that form of lumbago and sometimes pressure sciatica, due to gaseous accumulations in the bowels, colocynth, caps... / ...of the fifth nerve, when the characteristic cutting pain prevails. It should be given also when colicky pain precedes or accompanies amenorrhoea.1
The dried, peeled pulp of the fruit of Citrullus Colocynthis (Linné,) Schrader. (Nat. Ord. Cucurbitaceae.) Mediterranean basin of Europe, Asia,... / ...n the stomach and bowel perversions named above it is often corrected by colocynth. In that form of lumbago and sometimes pressure sciatica, due to gaseous accumulations in the bowels, colocynth, caps... / ...of the fifth nerve, when the characteristic cutting pain prevails. It should be given also when colicky pain precedes or accompanies amenorrhoea.1
GUARANAPACU7
A dried paste, chiefly consisting of the crushed or pounded seeds of Paullinia Cupana, Kunth (Nat. Ord. Sapindaceae), yielding not less than 4 per... / ...of the pain, the patient is mindweary, and cerebral anemia is always present. It sometimes relieves lumbago, and while contraindicated in sthenic neuralgias it sometimes relieves occipital neuralgia w... / ...be given.1
A dried paste, chiefly consisting of the crushed or pounded seeds of Paullinia Cupana, Kunth (Nat. Ord. Sapindaceae), yielding not less than 4 per... / ...of the pain, the patient is mindweary, and cerebral anemia is always present. It sometimes relieves lumbago, and while contraindicated in sthenic neuralgias it sometimes relieves occipital neuralgia w... / ...be given.1
JUGLANS CINEREA
The bark of the root of Juglans cinerea, Linné, collected in the autumn (Nat. Ord. juglandaceae). A forest tree of North America. Common Names:... / ...western States, where the pioneers also used it successfully for rheumatic pain in the backprobably lumbago due to overloaded intestines. For these purposes it is now a neglected medicine. Juglans has...1
The bark of the root of Juglans cinerea, Linné, collected in the autumn (Nat. Ord. juglandaceae). A forest tree of North America. Common Names:... / ...western States, where the pioneers also used it successfully for rheumatic pain in the backprobably lumbago due to overloaded intestines. For these purposes it is now a neglected medicine. Juglans has...1
MACROTYS (Cimicifuga racemosa)CIRAC
The rhizome and rootlets of Cimicifuga racemosa (Linné), Nuttall (Nat. Ord. Ranunculaceae). A conspicuously handsome perennial widely found in... / ... pain; stiff neck; aching of whole body from colds, the onset of fevers, or from muscular exertion; lumbago; bruised feeling of muscles of the forehead, with stiffness of the ocular muscles; soreness...1
The rhizome and rootlets of Cimicifuga racemosa (Linné), Nuttall (Nat. Ord. Ranunculaceae). A conspicuously handsome perennial widely found in... / ... pain; stiff neck; aching of whole body from colds, the onset of fevers, or from muscular exertion; lumbago; bruised feeling of muscles of the forehead, with stiffness of the ocular muscles; soreness...1
SINAPIS NIGRA
The ripe seeds of Brassica nigra (Linné), Koch (Nat. Ord. Cruciferae). Asia and southern Europe; cultivated. Dose (emetic), 1 to 3... / ...gastralgia, gastritis, flatulence, to the abdomen in colic, over the loins in suppression of urine, lumbago and backache, to the nape of the neck in congestive headache and cerebral congestion, to the... / ...mustard internally is to cause emesis in cases of narcotic poisoning. Besides acting as a prompt emetic, there is the added value of reflex st1
The ripe seeds of Brassica nigra (Linné), Koch (Nat. Ord. Cruciferae). Asia and southern Europe; cultivated. Dose (emetic), 1 to 3... / ...gastralgia, gastritis, flatulence, to the abdomen in colic, over the loins in suppression of urine, lumbago and backache, to the nape of the neck in congestive headache and cerebral congestion, to the... / ...mustard internally is to cause emesis in cases of narcotic poisoning. Besides acting as a prompt emetic, there is the added value of reflex st1
XANTHOXYLUM
The bark and berries of (1) Xanthoxylum americanum, Miller, and (2) Xanthoxylum Clava-Herculis, Lamarck (Nat. Ord. Rutaceae). Shrubs of North... / ...best drug that can be given in socalled chronic muscular rheumatism; and it is not without value in lumbago and myalgia. Chewing prickly ash bark is a domestic custom for the relief of toothache. Xant... / ...of restoration. Xanthoxylum deserves further study, chiefly as an alterative.1
The bark and berries of (1) Xanthoxylum americanum, Miller, and (2) Xanthoxylum Clava-Herculis, Lamarck (Nat. Ord. Rutaceae). Shrubs of North... / ...best drug that can be given in socalled chronic muscular rheumatism; and it is not without value in lumbago and myalgia. Chewing prickly ash bark is a domestic custom for the relief of toothache. Xant... / ...of restoration. Xanthoxylum deserves further study, chiefly as an alterative.1
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Materia Medica on Lumbago
BEAR'S FOOT
The root of POLYMNIA UVEDALIA, Lin. Tonic, alterative, laxa tive. The ointment used in lumbago and for reduction of glandular enlargements.2
The root of POLYMNIA UVEDALIA, Lin. Tonic, alterative, laxa tive. The ointment used in lumbago and for reduction of glandular enlargements.2
TURPENTINE
The concrete oleoresin obtained from PINUS PALUSTRIS, Mill. and other species of Pinus. This is now seldom used, but the oil distilled from the fresh oleoresin, Oil of Turpentine, is frequently prescribed. Internally it is stimulant, hemostatic, antiseptic and anthelmintic. It is often prescribed in typhoid fever, for relief of tympanjtes, in in ternal hemorrhages, occasionally in sciatica and lumbago, in purpura hemorrhagica, in chronic bronchitis and chronic affections of the urinary passages,2
The concrete oleoresin obtained from PINUS PALUSTRIS, Mill. and other species of Pinus. This is now seldom used, but the oil distilled from the fresh oleoresin, Oil of Turpentine, is frequently prescribed. Internally it is stimulant, hemostatic, antiseptic and anthelmintic. It is often prescribed in typhoid fever, for relief of tympanjtes, in in ternal hemorrhages, occasionally in sciatica and lumbago, in purpura hemorrhagica, in chronic bronchitis and chronic affections of the urinary passages,2
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Lumbago
LUMBAGO
In a rheumatic patient, salicylic acid, salicin, aspirin, potassium iodide are remedies likely to be of service. Liniments containing aconite, chloroform and belladonna; counter-irritation by capsicum or otherwise; acu-puncture; application of hot water bag or ironing with a hot flatiron are all approved remedies. Acetanilid, antipyrin or phenacetin may give relief.2
In a rheumatic patient, salicylic acid, salicin, aspirin, potassium iodide are remedies likely to be of service. Liniments containing aconite, chloroform and belladonna; counter-irritation by capsicum or otherwise; acu-puncture; application of hot water bag or ironing with a hot flatiron are all approved remedies. Acetanilid, antipyrin or phenacetin may give relief.2
References
1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.