Skip to content
Dr. Grey AI

Condition

Acute Back Pain

Acute back pain is a sudden ache that lasts under six weeks, usually from a strained muscle, sprained ligament, or minor disc problem. Among supplements, curcumin and devil's claw have some of the most research behind them, and in one small study of 108 people, pain eased with devil's claw. Still, that evidence is limited, and most episodes settle within a few weeks anyway, especially for people who stay active.

Sources: PMID 24672232

Supplements studied
2
Graded outcomes
1
Trials
1
People studied
108

Evidence by supplement

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

2 supplements

Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): outcomes studied for Acute Back Pain
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Pain

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect108 people
Devil's Claw: outcomes studied for Acute Back Pain
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
PainImproves (the measure goes down)108 people

Key findings

  • PainDevil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)Improves (the measure goes down)

The Acute Back Pain Relief & Recovery protocol

2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements

  • Magnesium400–600 mg daily (glycinate or citrate for better absorption)
  • Curcumin500–1,000 mg enhanced absorption curcumin 2–3 times daily

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Fullscript collectionJoints and bones: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript

We earn from purchases made in our Fullscript store, and links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Full disclosure

Studies cited

13 studies from PubMed

  1. The Efficacy of Harpagophytum procumbens (Teltonal) in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Active-Controlled Clinical TrialEvid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2021 · PMID 34630571
  2. Herbal medicine for low-back painCochrane Database Syst Rev, 2014 · PMID 25536022
  3. Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) as a treatment for osteoarthritis: a review of efficacy and safetyJ Altern Complement Med, 2006 · PMID 17212570
  4. Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens DC): an evidence-based systematic review by the Natural Standard Research CollaborationJ Herb Pharmacother, 2004 · PMID 17135164
  5. Harpgophytum procumbens for osteoarthritis and low back pain: a systematic reviewBMC Complement Altern Med, 2004 · PMID 15303636
  6. Treatment of patients with arthrosis of hip or knee with an aqueous extract of devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens DC.)Phytother Res, 2003 · PMID 14669250
  7. A randomized trial comparing a proprietary extract of Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw) with the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib in the treatment of low back painPhytomedicine, 2003 · PMID 12622467
  8. Effects of Harpagophytum procumbens LI 174 (devil's claw) on sensory, motor and vascular muscle reagibility in the treatment of unspecific back painSchmerz, 2001 · PMID 11810324
  9. Harpagophytum procumbens in the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Four-month results of a prospective, multicenter, double-blind trial versus diacerheinJoint Bone Spine, 2000 · PMID 11143915
  10. Effectiveness of Harpagophytum extract WS 1531 in the treatment of exacerbation of low back pain: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studyEur J Anaesthesiol, 1999 · PMID 11518071
  11. A 1-year follow-up after a pilot study with Doloteffin for low back painPhytomedicine · PMID 15693701
  12. A randomized double-blind pilot study comparing Doloteffin and Vioxx in the treatment of low back painRheumatology · PMID 12509627
  13. Comparison of outcome measures during treatment with the proprietary Harpagophytum extract doloteffin in patients with pain in the lower back, knee or hipPhytomedicine · PMID 12046857