Lower Back & Hip Injury

Question:

I have a friend with a serious hip/lower back injury. He takes Darvocet, but I was wondering if you think that there is anything that would help with the pain or possibly bring healing to his back/hip?

Answer:

Practical Herbalism by Philip Fritchey, MH, ND, CNHP

Modern herbalists often use willow bark as a mild analgesic in structural pain, and for many of the other purposes for which people take aspirin. Master Herbalist and USDA pharmacognacist, James Duke, include Willow bark in his herbal recommendations for everything from anti-aging to warts.

The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D.

For lesser pain or lingering pain, there are a number of herbal alternatives that can prove helpful.

Red pepper (Capsicum, various species)...contains a marvelous pain-relieving chemical--capsaicin--that is so potent that a tiny amount provides the active ingredient in some powerful pharmaceutical topical analgesics. One product, Zostrix, contains only 0.025 percent capsaicin...

Willow (Salix, various species) and other forms of natural aspirin...Many salicylate-rich plants also contain methyl-salicylate, an aspirin-like compound with a particularly pleasing smell. One is wintergreen. Another is birch bark, once used by American Indians to make a trea that they drank or applies externally...

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and other mints. You will find the compounds menthol and camphor in many over-the counter backache medication. They are chemicals tha can help ease the muscle tightness that contributes many bad backs. Menthol is a natural constituent of plants in the mint family, particularly peppermint and spearmint, although the aromatic oils of all the other mints contain it as well. Camphor occurs in spike lavender, hyssop and coriander...

Assorted essential oils. Treatment with essential oils can often help relieve the painful muscle spasms that contribute to back pain...sage, rosemary, thyme, horsebalm and mountain dittany--are rich in thymol and carvacrol, compounds that help muscles relax.

I have found good information at these links that might also help.

Lower Back Pain: Troubleshooting & Solutions
Whiplash, Neck, Back & Shoulder Pain: Posture & Muscle Strengthening
Posture While Sitting at a Desk
Inflammation & Diet
Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) Daily Intake Log: Schedules & Effects

Posted in: bones,camphor,capsaicin,carvacrol,cayenne,coriander,first aid,hyssop,illness or injury,injuires,mailbox,pain,peppermint,salicylate,spearmint,spike lavender,spine,thymol,willow,wintergreen