Herbal clinicians in the past have tended to downplay the role of herbs in the management of painful conditions. This thinking stems in part form the fact that many effective pain control agents of natural origin are narcotic in nature (such as opium) and are restricted for this reason.
However, recently there have been some substantial clinical advances in the use of herbs in the management of painful conditions such as headache, dysmenorrhea, and low back pain. This presentation will review these advances, which in many cases involve revisiting traditional uses, but in a modern scientific context. Relevant to this, the concept of phytoequivalence and its importance to effective pain management using herbs will be emphasized