What to eat for lower back pain and body aches
Lower back pain may be caused by factors such as cold exposure to the waist or kidney deficiency. It can be managed through dietary adjustments or medication, as follows:
I. Dietary Adjustments
1. Lamb Kidney
Lamb kidney has a sweet taste and warm nature. It helps tonify kidney qi and nourish essence and marrow. It can be used for symptoms such as lower back pain, tinnitus, and hearing loss caused by kidney deficiency due to overexertion.
2. Chinese Chives (Garlic Chives)
Chinese chives have a pungent flavor and warm nature, affecting the stomach, liver, and kidney meridians. They help warm the middle burner, promote qi circulation, tonify the liver and kidneys, and warm the lower back and knees. They are somewhat effective in relieving low back pain caused by lumbar muscle strain or sprains.
3. Longan
Longan fruit benefits the heart and spleen, enriches blood and qi, strengthens the spleen and stomach, and nourishes muscles. Rich in glucose, sucrose, amino acids, and trace elements, it also has anti-fatigue, energy-replenishing, and pain-relieving effects.
II. Medication Therapy
1. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapy
If lower back pain is accompanied by soreness, coldness, aversion to cold, and cold hands and feet, it is often due to kidney yang deficiency. Under medical guidance, patients may take Yougui Wan (Right Restoring Pills) or Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Cabinet Kidney Qi Pills). If symptoms include lower back soreness, tidal fever, night sweats, and frequent nighttime urination, it likely indicates kidney yin deficiency, which may be treated with Zuogui Wan (Left Restoring Pills) or Dabuyin Wan (Great Yin Tonifying Pills). If there is stiffness and pain in the neck and back that improves with activity, it may be due to poor flow of qi and blood, and Ge Gen Tang (Kudzu Root Decoction) combined with Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang may be used.
2. Western Medicine Therapy
Additionally, for general lower back pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed under medical supervision, such as etoricoxib, ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, or loxoprofen sodium tablets.
Patients with chronic lower back pain are advised to seek medical attention early to identify the underlying cause and begin appropriate treatment promptly. After symptom relief, greater attention should be paid to daily lifestyle management to prevent recurrence.