Acupuncture for Upper and Lower Back Pain
One common reason for seeking a medical professional is back pain. It is a condition that plagues the lives of millions of people, all over the world. It forces us to put any physical activity, both work and play, on hold.
There are several common causes of back pain. One of them is a herniated vertebral disc, which happens when one of the discs (located between two vertebrae in the spine) bulges outward. Another cause of back pain (as well as pain in areas of the lower body such as the buttocks and legs) is sciatica. This is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve in the spine. Sprains are another origin of back pain. They occur when a ligament is overstretched. Finally, there are strains. These happen when a muscle is actually ripped, which can occur in any part of the body
Acupuncture for back pain
In traditional Chinese medicine, back pain (as well as other conditions) are partitioned into different types, or patterns. A few common types of conditions that cause pain are Deficiency, Qi and Blood stagnation, and Cold Damp Obstruction.
Deficiency pain is common in the elderly and middle-aged. The pain is dull and chronic, and often improves with rest and relaxation.
Stagnation pain is caused by under-use (stagnation) of muscles. Therefore, it will become worse with rest and relaxation. This is typically a stabbing sensation, and more painful than a Deficiency condition. Sometimes this type of pain accompanies sprains and strains.
Cold Damp Obstruction pain is worsened (as the name suggests) by cold and damp conditions, often in the weather. Intuitively, it can be improved by applying heat to the effected areas. This type of pain can involve swelling and numbness.
Japanese Acupuncutre as a Treatment for Back Pain
The focus of traditional Chinese medicine is the restoration balance to the body's energy. The balancing of energy promotes healing of damage and increase in overall health. Acupuncture is one of the most common and effective means of restoring balance to alleviate back pain.
Acupuncture treatment for back pain is fairly simple. Needles may be places directly at the site of the condition, or at areas where there is no pain at all. These are referred to as “local” and “distal” needles, respectively. Even needles which are placed nowhere near the effected area may provide excellent results. Sometimes an Acupuncturist may simply place needles at the areas of the patient's body which are found to be the most sensitive. Herbs, cupping, and electric stimulation of acupuncture points may be used alongside the acupuncture itself. Most often, it is best to have regular and frequent sessions when the pain is high, and to ease off of acupuncture as the pain recedes.
In hospital studies done by doctors, it has been shown that acupuncture has the potential to provide significant and long-term relief for chronic back pain and muscle injury. When compared with a control group, patients who went through acupuncture treatment experienced improvement in sleep and activity levels. They also felt a much smaller need for pain killers and other forms of pain relief. Although effectiveness varies on a case-by-case basis, Acupuncture commonly clears up acute pain in only a few sessions, and continues to rise in popularity because of this.
Read about how the world's oldest form of medicine may cure aches and shed pounds
