The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Lower back pain can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like lower back pain here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here lower back pain is often associated with dizziness, depression and knee pain in the pattern “Kidney Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause lower back pain.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of lower back pain we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat lower back pain.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause lower back pain
In Chinese Medicine lower back pain is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Swollen
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness.
In addition to lower back pain, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include dizziness, depression and knee pain.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yang Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Menopausal Syndrome or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yang Deficiency is often treated with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Ba Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Yang".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Cracked
Kidney Yin Deficiency causes false Heat symptoms, such as night sweats, thirst and five palm heat. These signs are from a depletion of Body Fluids and Essence. It can be caused by prolonged overwork, excessive sexual activity, chronic long term illnesses, consumption of Body Fluids by Heat, prolonged blood loss, overdosage of Kidney Yang tonics herbs, smoking and Kidney depleting foods such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, and fruit juices.
In addition to lower back pain, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency include dizziness, tinnitus and night sweats.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Menopausal Syndrome, Prolonged Periods or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
In addition to lower back pain, other symptoms associated with Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency include dizziness, depression and knee pain.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Absence Of Menstruation.
Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency is often treated with Dang Gui Di Huang Yin, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Dong Quai - Dang Gui - as a key herb). Dang Gui Di Huang Yin belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes Blood".
Read more about Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency here
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen or Kidney Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
In addition to lower back pain, other symptoms associated with Spleen or Kidney Qi Deficiency include dizziness, fatigue and palpitations.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Spleen or Kidney Qi Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Early Menstruation.
Spleen or Kidney Qi Deficiency is often treated with Gui Pi Tang, a herbal formula made of 12 herbs (including Ginseng - Ren Shen - as a key herb). Gui Pi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify qi and blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
In addition to lower back pain, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency include dizziness, tinnitus and fatigue.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Absence Of Menstruation, Menopausal Syndrome or Vaginal Itching.
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
Five herbal formulas that might help with lower back pain
Dang Gui Di Huang Yin
Source date: 1640 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Blood. Tonifies Kidney and Liver Yin. Regulates the menstrual cycle.
Why might Dang Gui Di Huang Yin help with lower back pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which lower back pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Absence Of Menstruation.
Tiao Gan Tang
Why might Tiao Gan Tang help with lower back pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency' of which lower back pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Absence Of Menstruation.
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.
Why might Ba Wei Di Huang Wan help with lower back pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which lower back pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney Yang Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Abnormal Vaginal Discharge.
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system).
Why might Liu Wei Di Huang Wan help with lower back pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency' of which lower back pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney Yin Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Abnormal Vaginal Discharge.
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Why might Gui Pi Tang help with lower back pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen or Kidney Qi Deficiency' of which lower back pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Spleen or Kidney Qi Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Early Menstruation.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat lower back pain
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with lower back pain?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower back pain as a symptom, like Dang Gui Di Huang Yin or Tiao Gan Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with lower back pain?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower back pain as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Liu Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with lower back pain?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower back pain as a symptom, like Gui Shao Di Huang Tang or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with lower back pain?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower back pain as a symptom, like Gui Pi Tang or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with lower back pain?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower back pain as a symptom, like He Che Da Zao Wan or Zuo Gui Yin for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Conditions associated with lower back pain
Early menstruation Absence of menstruation Abnormal vaginal discharge
Other symptoms often associated with lower back pain
Dizziness Depression Knee pain Tinnitus Fatigue Night sweats Palpitations Sticky vaginal discharge Frequent urination Feeling of cold