Low Back Pain

腰背酸痛

Aching or discomfort in the lumbar area.

Quick Facts

Health Topic	Pain & Mobility
Also Known As	Lower back ache, Lumbar pain, Backache in the lower back, Sore lower back
Common Symptoms	Aching or discomfort in the lower back, sometimes extending to the hips or sacrum. It may worsen after standing, lifting or sitting for long periods, and can feel better with gentle movement or warmth. Stiffness on waking is common.
Related TCM Patterns	Kidney Yang Deficiency · Blood Deficiency · Blood Stasis · Cold Accumulation · Dampness · Damp-Heat
Related Classical Formulas	Dang Gui Si Ni Tang · Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang · You Gui Wan · Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan · Gan Jiang Ling Zhu Tang · Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang · Si Miao San · San Bi Tang · Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang · Tong Feng Wan

Low Back Pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, low back pain in the current set is associated with Blood deficiency. Differentiation looks at whether there is a pale complexion, dry tissues and a thin pulse, and whether the ache is dull rather than sharp and fixed. Classical formulas are matched to this pattern context rather than to the lumbar location alone. Accompanying signs such as tongue appearance, pulse quality and the presence of heat or cold help distinguish one presentation from another.

TCM Patterns Associated With Low Back Pain

The same presentation may be understood through more than one pattern. Pattern differentiation weighs the accompanying signs, not the symptom on its own.

Pattern	Common Features	Related Formulas
Kidney Yang Deficiency腎陽虛證Deficiency Patterns	Cold lower back and knees, cold limbs, clear copious urine or frequent nocturia, and reduced sexual drive or premature ejaculation. Energy is low, especially in the morning or in cold weather, and stools may be loose. The face can look pale and slightly puffy. Tongue pale and swollen with a white coating; pulse deep and weak, especially in the chi position.	You Gui Wan Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan
Blood Deficiency血虛證Deficiency Patterns	A pale or sallow complexion, dry hair or skin, light-headedness on standing, blurred vision, and easy fatigue. In women the menstrual flow is often scanty and pale. Sleep may be light, and the hands and feet can feel numb when tired. Tongue pale and thin; pulse thin and weak.	Dang Gui Si Ni Tang
Blood Stasis血瘀證Stagnation Patterns	Fixed, stabbing or piercing pain that does not move freely, often worse at night or with pressure. The complexion may look darker or purplish, and in women the menstrual flow can be dark with clots. Lips or nails may appear dusky. Tongue dark or with purple spots or congested veins under the tongue; pulse choppy or wiry and hesitant.	Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Cold Accumulation寒積證Cold Patterns	Fixed cold pain in the abdomen that prefers warmth and worsens with cold food or exposure. There may be constipation or difficult stools, cold limbs, and a preference for warm drinks. The abdomen can feel hard or full on pressure. Tongue pale with a white coating; pulse deep and tight or wiry.	Gan Jiang Ling Zhu Tang
Dampness濕阻證Damp Patterns	A heavy, sluggish body feeling, abdominal fullness, sticky sensation in the mouth, and reduced appetite. Stools may be sticky or incomplete, and the person often feels worse in humid weather. There can be oedema of the limbs or a greasy facial sheen. Tongue with a thick greasy white coating; pulse soft or slippery.	Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang San Bi Tang
Damp-Heat濕熱證Damp Patterns	A heavy body with a sense of heat, sticky or bitter taste in the mouth, scanty dark urine, and discomfort that worsens in hot humid weather. There may be greasy skin, sticky stools, or yellowish discharge. Thirst is present but drinking may not feel satisfying. Tongue red with a yellow greasy coating; pulse slippery and rapid.	Si Miao San Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang Tong Feng Wan