论曰腰痛有五，一阳气不足，足少阴气衰，令人腰痛，二风寒着腰，风痹腰痛，三肾虚
劳役，伤肾腰痛，四坠堕伤腰，名 腰痛，五寝卧湿地腰痛，凡此皆本于伤肾，盖肾主腰脚，
肾伤则腰痛也，内经曰，腰者肾之府，摇转不能，肾将惫矣。
论曰腰者一身之要，屈伸俯仰，无不由之，或风寒所客，或肾气损伤，使筋脉拘急，动
摇转侧不得，故腰痛也。
治五种腰痛，人参汤方
人参（三分） 杜仲（去粗皮锉炒） 桂（去粗皮各一两） 芍药（三两） 熟干地黄
（焙） 白
术木通（锉） 玄参 当归（切焙各三分） 芎 桑寄生（各一两） 防风（去叉） 牡
丹皮
独活（去芦头各半两）
上一十四味，粗捣筛，每服三钱匕，水一盏，煎七分，去滓温服，空心日午夜卧服。
治五种腰痛，不能转侧，寄生汤方
桑寄生 附子（炮裂去皮脐） 独活（去芦头） 狗脊（去毛） 桂（去粗皮各一两） 杜
仲（
去粗皮锉炒一两一分） 芎 （一分） 甘草（炙锉） 人参（各半两） 芍药 白术 石
槲（去根
上一十三味，锉如麻豆，每服三钱匕，水一盏，煎至七分，去滓空心日午夜卧温服。
治腰痛牵引背脊，不可俯仰，独活汤方
独活（去芦头一两） 麻黄（去根节） 甘草（炙各半两） 桂（去粗皮） 葛根 芍
药栝蒌
（去皮尖别研半
上一十二味，锉如麻豆，每服三钱匕，水一盏，煎至六分，去滓空心日午夜卧温服。
治五种腰痛，肾脏虚冷，脚弱不能行步，肾沥汤方
桑根白皮（锉二两） 黄 （锉） 五味子（去梗） 肉苁蓉（酒浸切焙） 防风（去
叉） 秦艽
牛膝（酒浸切焙
炒） 人参（各三分）
上一十七味，粗捣筛，每服先用水二盏，煮羊肾一只，至一盏，去肾入药末三钱匕，生
姜三片，煎至七分，去滓空心日午夜卧温服。
治五种腰痛，泽泻汤方
泽泻（半两） 桂（去粗皮三分） 白术 白茯苓（去黑皮） 甘草（炙锉各一两） 牛
膝（酒
上八味，粗捣筛，每服三钱匕，水一盏，煎至七分，去滓空心日午夜卧温服。
治腰痛沉重，腹肚胀，不能转动，木香丸方
木香（半两） 槟榔（锉） 桂（去粗皮） 附子（炮裂去皮脐） 萆 芍药 郁李
仁（去皮
上七味，捣研为末，用炼蜜丸如梧桐子大，每服二十丸，温酒下，空心日午夜卧服，微
利为效。
治腰痛，寄生散方
桑寄生（切焙） 牡丹皮 鹿茸（酒浸炙去毛） 桂（去粗皮各半两）
上四味，捣罗为细散，每服二钱匕，温酒调下，空心日午夜卧服。
治腰痛，桂心丸方
桂（去粗皮） 干姜（炮各半两） 丹参 杜仲（去粗皮锉炒） 牛膝（酒浸切焙） 续
断（各
上六味，捣罗为末，炼蜜丸如梧桐子大，每服二十丸，温酒下，空心日午夜卧服。
治腰痛动转艰难，似有气注，萆 汤方
萆 （一两半） 当归（切焙一两） 桔梗（炒一两半） 牡丹皮（一两） 杏仁（汤
浸去皮尖
两半） 代赭（一
皮） 覆盆子（去梗） 黄芩
（去黑心各一两） 吴茱萸（洗焙炒半两） 草豆蔻（去皮一枚） 桃仁（汤去皮尖双仁十
枚） 熟
干地黄（焙一两） 蛇床子（炒一两半） 干姜（炮半两） 木瓜（去皮子焙干一两）
上二十二味，锉如麻豆，每服五钱匕，水一盏半，煎至一盏，去滓空心温服。
治冷气连腰胯痛，食冷物即加剧，应痛丸方
白术 牛膝（酒浸切焙） 当归（切焙） 黄 （锉） 芍药 陈橘皮（汤浸去白焙） 桂
（去
上一十味，捣罗为末，炼蜜和丸，如梧桐子大，每服二十丸，温酒下，加至三十丸，空
心食前日三服。
治久患腰痛，皆由肾冷所致，暖肾散方
附子（炮裂去皮脐一两） 泽泻（一两半） 桂（去粗皮一两半） 蜀椒（去目并闭口
者炒出
上六味，捣罗为细散，每服五钱匕，空心冷酒调下，日再服。
治久积冷气，腰痛行步无力，牛膝丸方
牛膝（酒浸切焙） 附子（炮裂去皮脐各二两） 桂（去粗皮） 吴茱萸（汤洗焙干炒）
干姜
（炮各一两半） 牵牛子（三两）
上六味，捣罗为末，炼蜜和丸，如梧桐子大，每服三十丸，食前温洒或橘皮姜汤下。
治停水腰痛，牛膝散方
牛膝（酒浸切焙） 防己（各一两半） 槟榔（锉七枚） 牵牛子（生捣取末二两）
上四味，捣罗为散，每服三钱匕，温酒调下，利及三两行，即以醋饭止之。
治腰疼熨方
食盐 干姜（生为末） 杏仁（汤浸去皮尖双仁研） 酱瓣（研）
上四味等分，再同研匀，以绵裹内腰间，当觉冷气动下，日五六次用，瘥即已。
治多年腰痛，干漆散方
干漆（炒令烟出） 木香 桂（去粗皮） 甘草（炙锉各一两一分） 熟干地黄（焙二
两半）
上五味，捣罗为散，每服三钱匕，温酒调下，日三服。
治肾虚腰痛，牡丹散方
牡丹皮 萆 白术 桂（去粗皮等分）
上四味，捣罗为散，每服三钱匕，温酒调下。
治腰痛，杜仲酒方
杜仲（去粗皮） 丹参（各八两） 芎 （五两）
上三味细锉，用酒一斗五升，浸五日，日满随性多少温饮。
It is stated that there are five types of lower back pain. The first is due to deficiency of Yang Qi and decline of Qi in the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) meridian, causing lower back pain. The second is wind-bi type lower back pain caused by Wind-Cold pathogenic factors attaching to the waist. The third is Kidney-injury lower back pain resulting from Kidney deficiency and excessive labor damaging the Kidneys. The fourth is named falling trauma lower back pain, caused by falls or blows injuring the waist. The fifth is lower back pain caused by sleeping on damp ground. All these originate from injury to the Kidneys, as the Kidneys govern the waist and legs; when the Kidneys are injured, lower back pain occurs. The *Neijing* states: "The waist is the mansion of the Kidneys; if it cannot rotate, the Kidneys are about to fail."
It is stated that the waist is the crucial part of the whole body; flexion, extension, bending forward, and looking up all depend on it. If Wind-Cold pathogens lodge in the interior, or if Kidney Qi is damaged, causing spasms and tightness of the sinews and vessels, making movement and rotation difficult, thus lower back pain arises.
**Ren Shen Tang (Ginseng Decoction) for treating five types of lower back pain:**
* Ren Shen (*Panacis Ginseng Radix*, 3 fen)
* Du Zhong (*Eucommiae Cortex*, removed coarse bark, crushed, stir-fried)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark, each 1 liang)
* Bai Shao (*Paeoniae Radix Alba*, 3 liang)
* Shu Di Huang (*Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata*, baked)
* Bai Zhu (*Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma*)
* Mu Tong (*Akebiae Caulis*, crushed)
* Xuan Shen (*Scrophulariae Radix*)
* Dang Gui (*Angelicae Sinensis Radix*, sliced, baked, each 3 fen)
* Chuan Xiong (*Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma*)
* Sang Ji Sheng (*Taxilli Herba*, each 1 liang)
* Fang Feng (*Saposhnikoviae Radix*, removed forked branches)
* Mu Dan Pi (*Moutan Cortex*)
* Du Huo (*Angelicae Pubescentis Radix*, removed rhizome head, each half liang)
The above fourteen ingredients are coarsely pounded and sieved. Take three qianbi per dose, with one sheng of water, decoct until seven parts remain, remove dregs, and take warm. Administer on an empty stomach at midnight and before sleep.
**Ji Sheng Tang (Taxillus Decoction) for treating five types of lower back pain with inability to turn sideways:**
* Sang Ji Sheng (*Taxilli Herba*)
* Fu Zi (*Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata*, cracked, skin and umbilicus removed)
* Du Huo (*Angelicae Pubescentis Radix*, removed rhizome head)
* Gou Ji (*Rhizoma Cibotii*, hair removed)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark, each 1 liang)
* Du Zhong (*Eucommiae Cortex*, removed coarse bark, crushed, stir-fried, 1 liang 1 fen)
* Chuan Xiong (*Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma*, 1 fen)
* Gan Cao (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*, honey-fried, crushed)
* Ren Shen (*Panacis Ginseng Radix*, each half liang)
* Bai Shao (*Paeoniae Radix Alba*)
* Bai Zhu (*Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma*)
* Shi Hu (*Dendrobii Caulis*, roots removed, each half liang)
The above thirteen ingredients are crushed like hemp seeds. Take three qianbi per dose, with one sheng of water, decoct until seven parts remain, remove dregs, and take warm on an empty stomach at midnight and before sleep.
**Du Huo Tang (Angelica Pubescens Decoction) for treating lower back pain radiating to the spine with inability to bend or extend:**
* Du Huo (*Angelicae Pubescentis Radix*, removed rhizome head, 1 liang)
* Ma Huang (*Ephedrae Herba*, removed roots and joints)
* Gan Cao (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*, honey-fried, each half liang)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark)
* Ge Gen (*Puerariae Lobatae Radix*)
* Bai Shao (*Paeoniae Radix Alba*)
* Gua Lou (*Trichosanthis Fructus*, skin and seeds removed, separately ground, half liang)
The above twelve ingredients are crushed like hemp seeds. Take three qianbi per dose, with one sheng of water, decoct until six parts remain, remove dregs, and take warm on an empty stomach at midnight and before sleep.
**Shen Li Tang (Kidney Drip Decoction) for treating five types of lower back pain with Kidney deficiency-cold and weak legs unable to walk:**
* Sang Gen Bai Pi (*Mori Cortex Radicis*, crushed, 2 liang)
* Huang Qi (*Astragali Radix*, crushed)
* Wu Wei Zi (*Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus*, stems removed)
* Rou Cong Rong (*Cistanches Herba*, soaked in wine, sliced, baked)
* Fang Feng (*Saposhnikoviae Radix*, removed forked branches)
* Qin Jiao (*Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix*)
* Niu Xi (*Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix*, soaked in wine, sliced, baked, stir-fried)
* Ren Shen (*Panacis Ginseng Radix*, each 3 fen)
The above seventeen ingredients are coarsely pounded and sieved. For each dose, first boil one sheep kidney in two shengs of water until one sheng remains, remove the kidney, add three qianbi of the powdered medicine and three slices of fresh ginger, decoct until seven parts remain, remove dregs, and take warm on an empty stomach at midnight and before sleep.
**Ze Xie Tang (Alisma Decoction) for treating five types of lower back pain:**
* Ze Xie (*Alismatis Rhizoma*, half liang)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark, 3 fen)
* Bai Zhu (*Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma*)
* Bai Fu Ling (*Poria*, removed black skin)
* Gan Cao (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*, honey-fried, crushed, each 1 liang)
* Niu Xi (*Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix*, soaked in wine, each half liang)
The above eight ingredients are coarsely pounded and sieved. Take three qianbi per dose, with one sheng of water, decoct until seven parts remain, remove dregs, and take warm on an empty stomach at midnight and before sleep.
**Mu Xiang Wan (Costus Pill) for treating heavy lower back pain, abdominal distension, and inability to move:**
* Mu Xiang (*Aucklandiae Radix*, half liang)
* Bing Lang (*Arecae Semen*, crushed)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark)
* Fu Zi (*Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata*, cracked, skin and umbilicus removed)
* Bi Xie (*Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma*)
* Bai Shao (*Paeoniae Radix Alba*)
* Yu Li Ren (*Pruni Semen*, skin removed, each half liang)
The above seven ingredients are pounded and ground into powder. Mix with refined honey to make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take twenty pills per dose with warm wine, on an empty stomach at midnight and before sleep. Mild diarrhea indicates efficacy.
**Ji Sheng San (Taxillus Powder) for treating lower back pain:**
* Sang Ji Sheng (*Taxilli Herba*, sliced, baked)
* Mu Dan Pi (*Moutan Cortex*)
* Lu Rong (*Cervi Cornu Pantotheca*, soaked in wine, roasted, hair removed)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark, each half liang)
The above four ingredients are pounded and sifted into a fine powder. Take two qianbi per dose, mixed with warm wine, on an empty stomach at midnight and before sleep.
**Gui Xin Wan (Cinnamon Heart Pill) for treating lower back pain:**
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark)
* Gan Jiang (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*, processed, each half liang)
* Dan Shen (*Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix*)
* Du Zhong (*Eucommiae Cortex*, removed coarse bark, crushed, stir-fried)
* Niu Xi (*Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix*, soaked in wine, sliced, baked)
* Xu Duan (*Dipsaci Radix*, each half liang)
The above six ingredients are pounded and sifted into a fine powder. Mix with refined honey to make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take twenty pills per dose with warm wine, on an empty stomach at midnight and before sleep.
**Bi Xie Tang (Dioscorea Hypoglauca Decoction) for treating lower back pain with difficult movement and sensation of Qi injection:**
* Bi Xie (*Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma*, 1.5 liang)
* Dang Gui (*Angelicae Sinensis Radix*, sliced, baked, 1 liang)
* Jie Geng (*Platycodonis Radix*, stir-fried, 1.5 liang)
* Mu Dan Pi (*Moutan Cortex*, 1 liang)
* Xing Ren (*Armeniacae Semen Amarum*, soaked in hot water, skin and tips removed, double-kernel, 1.5 liang)
* Dai Zhe Shi (*Haematitum*, 1.5 liang)
* Fu Pen Zi (*Rubi Fructus*, stems removed)
* Huang Qin (*Scutellariae Radix*, removed black heart, each 1 liang)
* Wu Zhu Yu (*Evodiae Fructus*, washed, baked, stir-fried, half liang)
* Cao Dou Kou (*Amomi Fructus Rotundus*, skin removed, one fruit)
* Tao Ren (*Persicae Semen*, ten kernels, skin and tips removed)
* Shu Di Huang (*Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata*, baked, 1 liang)
* She Chuang Zi (*Cnidii Fructus*, stir-fried, 1.5 liang)
* Gan Jiang (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*, processed, half liang)
* Mu Gua (*Chaenomelis Fructus*, skin and seeds removed, baked dry, 1 liang)
The above twenty-two ingredients are crushed like hemp seeds. Take five qianbi per dose, with one and a half shengs of water, decoct until one sheng remains, remove dregs, and take warm on an empty stomach.
**Ying Tong Wan (Pain-Responding Pill) for treating cold Qi connecting to the waist and hips, worsening after eating cold food:**
* Bai Zhu (*Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma*)
* Niu Xi (*Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix*, soaked in wine, sliced, baked)
* Dang Gui (*Angelicae Sinensis Radix*, sliced, baked)
* Huang Qi (*Astragali Radix*, crushed)
* Bai Shao (*Paeoniae Radix Alba*)
* Chen Pi (*Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium*, soaked in hot water, white pith removed, baked)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark)
* Fu Zi (*Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata*, cracked, skin and umbilicus removed)
* Gan Jiang (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*, processed)
* Gan Cao (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*, honey-fried, each half liang)
The above ten ingredients are pounded and sifted into a fine powder. Mix with refined honey to make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take twenty pills per dose with warm wine, increasing to thirty pills if necessary. Take three times daily before meals on an empty stomach.
**Nuan Shen San (Warming Kidney Powder) for treating chronic lower back pain caused by Kidney cold:**
* Fu Zi (*Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata*, cracked, skin and umbilicus removed, 1 liang)
* Ze Xie (*Alismatis Rhizoma*, 1.5 liang)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark, 1.5 liang)
* Shu Jiao (*Zanthoxyli Fructus*, remove eyes and closed ones, stir-fry until oil appears, 1.5 liang)
* Gan Jiang (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*, processed, 1.5 liang)
* Mu Li (*Ostreae Concha*, calcined, 1.5 liang)
The above six ingredients are pounded and sifted into a fine powder. Take five qianbi per dose on an empty stomach, mixed with cold wine. Take twice daily.
**Niu Xi Wan (Achyranthes Pill) for treating chronic accumulation of cold Qi, lower back pain, and weakness in walking:**
* Niu Xi (*Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix*, soaked in wine, sliced, baked)
* Fu Zi (*Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata*, cracked, skin and umbilicus removed, each 2 liang)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark)
* Wu Zhu Yu (*Evodiae Fructus*, washed in hot water, baked dry, stir-fried)
* Gan Jiang (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*, processed, each 1.5 liang)
* Qian Niu Zi (*Pharbitidis Semen*, 3 liang)
The above six ingredients are pounded and sifted into a fine powder. Mix with refined honey to make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take thirty pills per dose before meals with warm wine or tangerine peel and ginger soup.
**Niu Xi San (Achyranthes Powder) for treating water retention lower back pain:**
* Niu Xi (*Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix*, soaked in wine, sliced, baked)
* Fang Ji (*Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix*, each 1.5 liang)
* Bing Lang (*Arecae Semen*, crushed, seven pieces)
* Qian Niu Zi (*Pharbitidis Semen*, raw, pounded to obtain powder, 2 liang)
The above four ingredients are pounded and sifted into a powder. Take three qianbi per dose, mixed with warm wine. If diarrhea occurs two or three times, stop it with vinegar rice.
**Yun Fang (Ironing Method Prescription) for treating lower back pain:**
* Yan Shi (*Halitum*)
* Gan Jiang (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*, raw, ground into powder)
* Xing Ren (*Armeniacae Semen Amarum*, soaked in hot water, skin and tips removed, double-kernel, ground)
* Jiang Ban (*Fermented Soybean Paste*, ground)
Mix equal parts of the above four ingredients thoroughly again. Wrap in cotton cloth and apply to the waist. When cold Qi is felt moving downward, use five or six times daily. Discontinue when cured.
**Gan Qi San (Dried Resin Powder) for treating chronic lower back pain:**
* Gan Qi (*Resina Draconis*, stir-fry until smoke emerges)
* Mu Xiang (*Aucklandiae Radix*)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark)
* Gan Cao (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*, honey-fried, crushed, each 1 liang 1 fen)
* Shu Di Huang (*Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata*, baked, 2.5 liang)
The above five ingredients are pounded and sifted into a powder. Take three qianbi per dose, mixed with warm wine. Take three times daily.
**Mu Dan San (Moutan Powder) for treating Kidney deficiency lower back pain:**
* Mu Dan Pi (*Moutan Cortex*)
* Bi Xie (*Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma*)
* Bai Zhu (*Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma*)
* Gui Zhi (*Cinnamomi Ramulus*, removed coarse bark, equal parts)
The above four ingredients are pounded and sifted into a powder. Take three qianbi per dose, mixed with warm wine.
**Du Zhong Jiu (Eucommia Wine) for treating lower back pain:**
* Du Zhong (*Eucommiae Cortex*, removed coarse bark)
* Dan Shen (*Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix*, each 8 liang)
* Chuan Xiong (*Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma*, 5 liang)
Finely chop the above three ingredients. Soak in 1.5 dou of wine for five days. After five days, drink warm according to preference.