Low back pain occurs to nearly everyone sometime in life. While most lower back pain come and go in a matter of days, acute or chronic back pain poses a serious health issue to many of us.

Back is supported by the spinal column, which is composed of the spinal cord and the surrounding vertebrae. The spinal column is linked by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The vertebrae are linked by discs which are flexible to allow changes in position. The spinal cord sends out nerves between each vertabrae to the whole body and thus senses any movement and anything wrong.

Low back pain may occur under many circumstances. For example, if the discs overgrow it may press the nerves; if the discs and vertebrae are degenerated they lose flexibility; a sport injury and heavy lifting may twist muscles, ligaments, vertabrae or nerves; a local inflamation may be sensed by the nerves.

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) interprets lower back pain in its own terms. While the TCM's terms do not readily correspond to terms in modern medicine, the derived herbal remedies for low back pain have been effectively practiced in China for many centuries. Traditional Chinese medicines recognizes low back pain in several patterns.

1. Blood Stasis Back Pain. Back pain of this type is caused by blood stagnation and inflammation in local spots of the back. It often has a history of injury such as heavy lifting, sport's injury, or a car accident etc. Such back pain may be acute, stabbing, and hard to tolerate. The pain position is fixed and resistant to pressure. The most recommended Chinese herbal remedy for blood stasis back pain is Shen Tong Zhu Yu Wan. It promotes blood and Qi circulation, removes blood stasis in the meridians, and thus alleviates back pain.

2. Rheumatic Back Pain. Back pain of this type often occurs to people who live or work in moist, damp, windy, and cold environment for a lengthy time. The dampness and coldness slowly invades the back and the trunk and causes Qi and blood stagnation. In modern medicine the pathology belongs to inflammation and arthritis. Typically, the back pain occurs chronically, at random postions, is worsen in cold and damp weather but alleviated in warm and dry weather. (here we may know why retirees like to move to California and Arizona.) The back pain feels relieved on pressure. The legs may also be affected. The most regarded Chinese herbal remedy for rheumatic back pain is Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan. It expels wind and removes dampness, removes obstruction in Qi and blood circulation to relieve back pain.

3. Kidney Deficient Back Pain. The TCM theory states the kidney is fundamental to all organs and is the source for Yin and Yang. When kidney functions decline back pain is manifested. Kidney functions decline with age (e. g., 40), over frequent sexuality, overwork under stress. Back pain due to kidney insufficiency is typically a feeling of the weakness and soreness of the lower back and knees. The pain is mild but may be persistent. In addition to the sore waist, depending on whether Yin or Yang is insufficient, other symptoms may also occur. For example, the Yang deficiency may show cold limbs, lassitude, and/or pale face whereas the Yin deficiency may show sweat, hay fever, hor flash, dizziness, thirst, and/or tinnitus.

Herbal remedies for nourishing kidney Yin and Yang are among the best known in traditional Chinese medicines and commonly prescribed in China. The most recommended herbal remedies for Yin deficiency are YinVive^TM and Zuo Gui Wan. Similarly, the most recommended herbal remedies for Yang deficiency are YanVive^TM and You Gui Wan.

All Chinese Herbs we carry are 100% natural herbal remedies. They are time-tested and safe, with no pharmaceuticals, no preservatives, no artifical colors.

by X. Li, Ph. D.