Gagnier, Joel J.; van Tulder, Maurits W.; Berman, Brian; Bombardier, Claire.
The purpose of this review was to determine the effectiveness of herbal medicine compared with placebo, no intervention, or "standard/accepted/conventional treatments" for nonspecific low back pain. Ten trials were included in this review and the authors concluded that Harpagophytum procumbens, Salix alba, and Capsicum frutescens seem to reduce pain more than placebo. Additional trials testing these herbal medicines against standard treatments will clarify their equivalence in terms of efficacy.
Spine. 32(1):82-92, January 1, 2007.
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