Rhus toxicodendron. [Rhus-t]
A violent pain in the back, as if broken, is the greatest characteristic of Rhus in the backache. It is more characteristic than the symptom “relief from motion,” for **Rhus may be indicated where the patient is worse from motion.
**Rhus seems to be especially suitable to affections of the deeper muscles of the back. There are great pains, dull, bruised, and aching on attempting to rise, showing, thus, the aggravation ***on commencing motion. It is more suitable to the chronic forms of lumbago, while **Aconite suits the acute forms, and will often times give prompt relief. Baehr prefers **Tartar emetic even to **Rhus and Arnica in lumbago.
The backache of **Rhus is better from pressure, but worse in bed. The Rhus patient likes to lie on sometime hard.
**Natrum muriaticum has this same symptom–backache relieved by lying on something on hard. The **Rhus pains are relieved by bending backwards.
**Sulphur has lumbar pains, with sudden loss of power to move; worse before a storm, reminding of **Rhododendron. **Petroleum and **Ruta have pains in the back in the morning before rising. In Staphisagria these pains compel the patient to get up early and move about. This symptom is found also under **Kali carbonicum; it comes on about 3 A.M., and is accompanied by pains shooting down the buttocks. **Ledum has a stiffness in the back, similar to that experienced when one sits still for a long time.
**Hypericum has aching in small of back and stitches, and is especially useful in women who are forced to lift and strain and go up and down stairs frequently.
**Bryonia. Suits a lumbago of a quiet type, with great aggravation on moving.
**Gnaphalium will sometimes cure a chronic backache, a tired aching in the lumbar region that saps one’s strength and ambition. Worse from continued motion, better resting, especially on the back. The more chronic the backache the better indicated the remedy.
Calcarea fluorica. [Calc-f]
This remedy has quite a clinical reputation for curing backache, and especially the backache simulating spinal irritation. It has pain in the lower part of the back, with a fullness or burning pain. Lumbago worse on beginning to move and relieved by continued motion, or lumbago from stains, will find in **Calcarea fluorica its remedy when **Rhus fails. The temperament and general constitutional characteristics of **Calcarea may be present. It also follows Rhus well.
**Kali phosphoricum, another of the tissue remedies, has a rheumatic lameness worse after rest, and on just commencing to move; there is a paralytic tendency, worse on rising from sitting position. Some remedies have a backache worse from sitting, notably **Cobalt, Zincum, Sepia, and Cannabis Indica. Lumbago worse when first beginning to move may call for **Anacardium or Conium, as well as for **Rhus.
Nux vomica. [Nux-v]
Another remedy in backache, especially if referable to spinal affections, is **Nux vomica. It is in the lumbar region is worse at night when lying in bed, of a drawing, lacerating or bruised character, with perhaps sudden stitches in the back, and a characteristic is that the patient must sit up in bed to turn over. It has also a morning backache, and the longer the patient lies in the bed the more the backaches. The backache brought on by sexual excesses should lead to the consideration of both **Nux and Staphisagria. Stiff neck and torticollis may also be benefited by Nux.
**Phosphorus has intense burning pains in the spine between the scapulae, with sensitive dorsal spines, and Secale has a sudden catch or kind in the back.
**Lycopodium. Burning as from coals between the scapulae; stiffness and pain in the small of the back corresponds to this remedy.
Oxalic acid [Ox-ac]
Has an acute pain in the back relieved by change of posture; back seems too weak to support the body. The pains are worse when thinking of them, accompanied by debility and numb feeling in the limbs, aching pain in lower part of the back between shoulders, pain and tenderness, worse from any kind of movement or exertion; pain in spots. **Picric acid has heaviness. **Oxalic acid numbness.
Sepia. [Sep]
**Sepia is very frequently indicated in the backaches which are due to uterine disease. It is a general weakness in the small of the back when walking, and is worse while sitting. Sudden pain in the back, as if struck by a hammer, relieved by pressing back upon something hard.
**Aesculus is often a useful remedy in backache which, like Sepia’s is worse when walking. It is a severe, continuous, dull aching in the lumbo-sacral region, affecting the sacrum and hips, and the back “give out” when walking. Backache during pregnancy will often be suggestive of **Aesculus, when especially worse from walking or stooping.
**Cimicifuga has violent aching in the back in women, dependent on uterine complaints, especially in rheumatic subjects. Aurand says no remedy has served him so well for the relief of lumbago or “crick in the back” as **Cimicifuga.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.