Evidence supporting the use of: Ashwagandha
For the health condition: Backache

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a long-standing history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for relieving pain, including backache and other musculoskeletal complaints. In Ayurveda, ashwagandha is classified as a "Rasayana" (rejuvenative) herb and is commonly prescribed to strengthen the body, reduce inflammation, and alleviate chronic pain. Traditional practitioners often recommend ashwagandha, sometimes in combination with other herbs, for conditions like backache, arthritis, and general weakness. The rationale is based on its reputed abilities to reduce "vata" (which is associated with pain and nervous system disorders) and its adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects as described in classical Ayurvedic texts.

From a scientific perspective, there is some preliminary evidence supporting ashwagandha’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which could, in theory, help with conditions associated with back pain. A few small clinical studies and animal experiments have shown that ashwagandha extracts can reduce markers of inflammation and may modestly relieve pain. However, robust, high-quality clinical trials specifically investigating ashwagandha’s effectiveness for backache are lacking. Thus, while its use for backache is primarily justified by traditional practice and some supporting mechanistic data, it is not strongly validated by modern clinical research.

In summary, ashwagandha is traditionally used for backache, and there is low to moderate supporting evidence, but more rigorous studies are needed to confirm its efficacy for this specific condition.

More about ashwagandha
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Other ingredients used for Backache

Abies spectabilis
Abrus
Abuta
Achyranthes
Aconite
Actaea spicata
Aerva lanata
Agrimonia pilosa
Ajuga
Akebia
Albizia
Alchornea
Allium tuberosum
Almond fruit
Alstonia macrophylla
Alstonia scholaris
amber
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
anamu
Anserina
antler
Aralia
Arani
Ardisia
ashwagandha
aspen
aster root
Asteraceae
atractylodes
atractylone
ba ji tian
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Baliospermum
balsam
banyan
barbary matrimony vine
Barleria
Bassia scoparia
bee products
Bergenia
bermuda grass
beta caryophyllene
betony
big quaking grass
birch
bishop\'s weed
black cumin
black galingale
Black Hellebore
black root
Black willow
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Blepharis
blue flag
Boerhavia diffusa
bogbean
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
borneol
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
Broussonetia
Bryonia
bugbane
Bulnesia sarmientoi
Bupleurum
Butea monosperma
butternut
bасора
Caesalpinia crista
Campylandra fimbriata
cannabidiol
Cannabis sativa oil
capillary artemisia
capsaicin
capsaicinoids
capsicum
carry me seed
Carthamus
caryophyllene
Casearia esculenta
cayenne pepper
Celosia
Centella asiatica
Centipeda
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese pond turtle
Chinese raisintree
Chinese silkvine
Chlorophytum
chuchuhuasi
chymopapain
Cinnamomum
Clary sage
clematis
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Clerodendrum trichotomum
coca
coconut oil
collagen
Collinsonia
colocynth
corktree
Cornus
Corydalis
costus
cowage seed
cowherb
cramp bark
culvers Root
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
Cyathula
Cynomorium
cypress
David\'s milkberry
deer root
devil's claw
devil\'s club
Dichrostachys glomerata
dioscorea
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dodder
dragonhead
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elephant\'s head
elk antler
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essential oil blend
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Evodia
fang-feng
fernbush
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flowering quince
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frankincense
Galbanum
garden cress
gastrodia
genipap
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giant blazingstar
ginger
Glechoma hederacea
Gnaphalium
golden eye-grass
golden shower tree
Golden Willow
gotu kola
Guazuma ulmifolia
Harpagoside
heal-all
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
Helicteres isora
hemp
hemp oil
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
Homalomena
horseradish
Huang hua
Ilex
Indian coraltree
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Indian frankincense
Indian kinotree
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indigo leaves
inula racemosa
iridoid glycosides
iridoids
Japanese kadsura
Japanese waxtree
Jatoba
Javanese Long Pepper
joe-pye
jujube
Kokilaksha
kudzu
Large-leaved linden
Lebbek
Ledebouriella
Leptadenia
Lesser speargrass
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Ligustrazin
Lilium polyphyllum
Lindera
little ironweed
lodhtree
long pepper
Lophira lanceolata
Loranthus
Lycopodium
Lysimachia
magnesium
Malay bush
mallow
Malva sylvestris
Manchurian thorn
Marjoram
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Meadowsweet
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Mezoneuron benthamianum
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mustard seed
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omega-3 fatty acids
Onosma bracteatum
Oroxylum indicum
Oxystelma
paederia foetida
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Pansit-pansitan
papaya
paw paw
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
peony
Pepper
Petiveria
Peucedanum
Phyllanthus
Physalis angulata
Piper chaba
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plantain
Plectranthus amboinicus
Polygonatum
poppy
Premna
prepared aconite tuber
prickly ash
Prunus
Psacalium peltatum
Pulsatilla
punarnava
purslane
Pyrrosia
Qin Jiao
quail egg
queen of the meadow
Queen's Delight
rhizome
rice
ricinoleic acid
root tuber
rosemary
Rubiaceae
Rubus
sage
Sagebrush
Salicin
Salvia
Sandy Everlasting
Sarivan
sarsaparilla
schizonepeta
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
Sedanenolide
Semecarpus anacardium
Sensitive Plant
Serrapeptase
Sesbania
Sete sangrias
Shataverins
shen-chu
Sichuan Lovage
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Sicklepod
Sida cordifolia
siler root
silk tree
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Solanum anguivi
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solomon's seal
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soursop
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vitamin D
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Wulinshen
Xanthophyll
Yellow root
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba buena
Yuzu
zanthoxylum
Zingerone
Zingiberene
Zucchini

Other health conditions supported by ashwagandha

Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Adrenal Fatigue
Afterbirth Pain
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Amenorrhea
Anemia
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Anger (excessive)
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bedwetting
Body Building
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Cholesterol (high)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Circulation (poor)
Concentration (poor)
Depression
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Emotional Sensitivity
Endurance (lack of)
Energy (lack of)
Epilepsy
Erectile Dysfunction
Exercise
Fatigue
Fear (excessive)
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Goiter
Grief and Sadness
Hair (graying)
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Headache (general)
Headache (tension)
Heart (weakness)
Hot Flashes
Hypertension
Hypothyroid
Hysteria
Infertility
Inflammation
Insomnia
Irritability
Leucorrhea
Lyme Disease
Memory and Brain Function
Menopause
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
Mental Illness
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neurosis
Nightmares
Nocturnal Emission
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Osteoporosis
Pain (general remedies for)
Parkinson's Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy
Pets (supplements for)
PMS (general)
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Premature Ejaculation
Prolapsed Uterus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sex Drive (low)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Stress
Syphilis
Tension
Testosterone (low)
Thinking (cloudy)
TMJ
Tremors
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Vitiligo
Weight Gain
Weight Loss
Worry
Wounds and Sores