|
Why do so many suffer
from low back pain?
This is a question that patients and doctors ask
with varying degrees of frustration. Chinese medicine provides an
alternative for understanding low back pain.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Briefly
Explained
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a system
of medicine that has been practiced for several thousand years in
the Orient and has gathered more acclaim in the last decade here
in the west. TCM encompasses the modalities of acupuncture, herbal
medicine, moxibustion (a burning herb treatment), Tui Na (medical
massage) and often includes nutritional therapy (food energetics)
and Qi Gong (breathing therapy).
In November of 1997 the National Institute of
Health published a consensus statement stating there is, in fact,
sufficient evidence to support the use of acupuncture. Through further
study of its physiology and clinical value, promising results emerged
regarding the efficacy of acupuncture for low back pain.
Western Diagnostic Language for Back Pain
When an individual is diagnosed with a "back
problem" in western medicine be it spondylosis, spinal osteoarthritis,
prolapsed lumbar disc or muscular/ligamentous lumbar strain the
focus is primarily on the lower back region. The options become
therapies such as spinal surgery, physical therapy, pharmaceutical
intervention and cortisone or epidural type injections. These are
considered perfectly acceptable modalities which many patients take
advantage of.
But what if they don't alleviate the pain? And,
what about the underlying cause for the back weakness in the first
place? Can that underlying weakness be strengthened? Let us consider
this possibility from the lens of Chinese medicine.
The Language of Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM)
The system of TCM is logical and scientific in
it's own way, though the language is unfamiliar in a western construct.
Yin and Yang is a concept that is gaining
common expression. During life, these two opposing and encompassing
energies are in a constant state of dynamic balance. When the balance
is threatened, disease is possible. Yin and Yang each have an individual
expression in the body and each requires the other to exist.
Qi and Blood is another basic concept to
Chinese medicine. Qi has been translated as energy, vital force
or life force. Qi travels in channels or meridians reaching every
aspect of our body. These channels are separate from the pathways
of the nervous, vascular and lymph systems in western medicine.
Loosely, when we are born we begin with a gas tank of Qi and when
the tank of Qi is empty, our life force is gone--in other words,
we die.
In TCM Blood means the fluid that nourishes and
moisturizes the body. It also houses the spirit (Shen) and aids
in the development of clear and stable thought processes. Disharmonies
of Blood include deficient Blood (i.e. pale complexion, dry skin,
dizziness), stagnant Blood (i.e. sharp, intense pain, or even tumors)
and heat in the Blood (i.e. bleeding symptoms such as hemorrhage
or nose bleeds).
Each organ system has representations of Yin and
Yang, as well as specific Qi and Blood functions. In TCM, a problem
with an organ or body part is treated in consideration of the whole
body system.
The Relation of the Kidney System in TCM and
Low Back Pain
In Chinese medicine, the low back is referred
to as the "Mansion of the Kidneys" meaning that the low
back is most closely related, but not limited to, the health of
the Kidney system.
An axiom of treatment in Chinese Medicine that
guides treatment is:
If there is free flow, there is no pain;
If there is no free flow, there is pain.
Basically, what this means is if the Qi and/or
Blood stagnate in the channel(s) through the region of the low back,
there will be low back pain.
Impeding the Free Flow of Qi Causes Pain
How does the free flow of Qi and Blood in the
body become impeded, so as to cause pain?
- The Qi and Blood can stagnate due to trauma
(i.e. lifting, repetitive strain over time, an accident or similar
sprain).
- An external invasion of wind, cold, dampness,
or heat may invade the lower back region causing pain (i.e. getting
caught in a soaking rain, a car accident in winter).
- There may be an insufficiency of Qi or Blood
creating a sluggishness or stagnation of flow throughout the channels
(i.e. after childbirth, post surgery, chronic hard work either
physical or mental, chronic excess worry).
Treatments for your Low Back According to TCM
- Acupuncture: The use of thin, pre-sterilized,
disposable needles to re-establish the proper flow of Qi and Blood
through the channel(s) of the back. This flow increases circulation
allowing for oxygen, blood and lymph to support the bodies healing
process. If the channels have been blocked for a long period of
time, or if there is pronounced deficiency of Qi and Blood, it
is necessary to have acupuncture for a longer period of time to
assist the body in regaining it's normal function. Research has
shown acupuncture to cause the release of neuro-chemicals such
as: endorphins, enkephalins, serotonin and corticosteroids all
of which contribute to the reduction of pain and inflammation.
- Moxibustion: Concentrated herbs that
are sprayed or burned above the skin to open and warm the channels,
move the Qi to unblock the Blood
- Herbal medicine: Individual herbs are
put together synergistically to create a formula with a specific
function (i.e. open the channels or strengthen the Kidneys). Herbs
go to specific channels and have specific properties (i.e. sweet,
bitter, cold, warm etc.).
- Tui Na or Chinese massage: Working on
the meridians with the hands, using techniques specific to Tui
Na. Care must be taken not to exacerbate inflammation if it is
present.
- Proper Diet: Our body can only be as
healthy as the fuel we give it. Our bodies need good clean nutrients,
in the proper amount, and at regular times. Our body has a hard
time managing an overload, irregular meals, processed foods with
lots of chemicals, and any one food to excess. Drinking water
is essential and is recommended to be the first thing in the body
every morning.
- Qi Gong Breathing: Qi Gong is the art
of therapeutic breathing. Breath is Qi. Qi is life. Poor breathing
habits have left most of us breathing on the shallow side. To
begin with make an effort to remember to breathe deeper, to take
in a full breath of air into our abdomen is health promoting.
Be aware of inhaling fresh air/Qi in through your nostrils all
the way down into your abdomen and exhaling through your mouth.
Your abdomen should visibly push outward on inhale and contract
back in on exhale.
There are specific breathing exercises to open the spine, which
in turn supports the flow of cerebral spinal fluid. You may want
to get a book or video on breathing exercises to support your
health. Deep breathing has far reaching affects in our body by
balancing our nervous system, increasing oxygen delivery and keeping
the Qi moving.
- Proper Exercise: Exercise promotes the
normal flow of Qi and Blood. Our bodies were designed to move.
It's no coincidence that back pain is on the rise in proportion
to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Regular aerobic activity,
regular stretching, keeping the abdominal muscles strong and proper
body mechanics when bending and lifting are some of the necessities
in back maintenance.
- Stress Management: Prolonged stress
creates disharmony on many levels: physically, mentally and spiritually.
Explore avenues to keep stress at a minimum in your life.
- Proper Rest: Our physiology needs regular
sleep and rest balanced with the activity we perform. Rest is
Yin, activity is Yang, and attention to both is required to maintain
balance. When we push ourselves too hard for too long and ignore
the need for rest our Yang consumes our Yin and imbalance resulting
in physical symptoms (i.e. headaches, fatigue, back pain, allergies).
A healthy body can recover from a temporary period of hard work
or emotional strain; the imbalance only begins when it goes beyond
temporary.
What to Expect in an Acupuncture Treatment
Acupuncture is strictly regulated via individual
state medical licensing boards as well as the National Council On
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Practitioners are qualified and
trained to diagnose and treat with TCM. Acupuncture doesn't "hurt"
but you may feel sensations that are different (like tingling, dull,
achy). These sensations are Qi, responding to treatment in order
to alleviate the symptoms. The thin needles are inserted according
to your individual diagnosis and are left in for approximately 20-40
minutes. During this time, most people experience a deep sense of
relaxation, in part because of the endorphins that are released
during acupuncture. Depending on whether your pain is acute or chronic
guides the number of treatments you may need. Your pain may be resolved
in a few treatments or it may take several courses, in some cases
acupuncture serves primarily as pain management. In any case, your
whole body benefits from the affects of acupuncture.
The acupuncturists at Heavenly Bodies Clinic are
licensed with the National Board and registered with the medical
boards of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
|
