According to a research review appearing in Cochrane Library, certain herbal preparations may be associated with short-term improvement in back pain (Gagnier J., 2006; Issue 2). The studies under review involved more than 1,500 subjects.
A standardized extract of devil’s claw (50 mg) showed greater pain reduction than placebo, and a higher dose was more effective than a lower-dose NSAID comparator used in one trial. Willow bark also demonstrated benefit compared to placebo, as did topical plasters containing cayenne pepper.
The reviewers did not issue a full endorsement of these therapies, noting that the studies were short-term and that some trials may have been subject to investigator bias.
