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ACUPUNCTURE EASES BACK PAIN

Most acupuncturists treat back pain very often. One of the reasons for this is how effective acupuncture is for back pain. Another is how ineffective Western medicine is for back pain.

Acupuncture's non invasive methods have proven themselves successful for both upper back pain and lower back pain.

Acupuncture treatments and acupuncture points vary depending on the location and cause of the back pain.

Much back pain is caused by spinal problems or abnormalities. Back trauma, congenital defects and even poor posture can cause the vertibrae (spinal discs) to compress the nerves emerging from the spine. When disc problems are not too severe, acupuncture can play a role in relieving pain and normalizing the flow of qi (energy) when nerves have been obstructed by swollen, ruptured, or misaligned discs.

Some acupuncturists believe that back pain unrelated to spinal problems can be caused by muscle spasms or may indicate disorders of the internal organs which lie beneath the pain. For example, sensitivity at certain acupuncture points in the cervical area and upper thoracic pain could indicate lung problems. Mid back pain could reflect heart or liver issues, and low back pain might indicate a kidney or intestinal problem. The most important acupuncture points located on the back that are used to treat internal organs are known as the shu points, or correspondant points.

Acupuncture and Upper Back Pain

The upper back is called the cervical area. The cervical vertibrae of the neck end in the upper back. The shu points for the lungs are located on the upper back. Conditions such as asthma and bronchitis are treated using these acupuncture points.

Often, pain or other nerve problems in the arms, wrists, hands, and fingers are treated by needling points in the upper back and neck. Since some of the acupuncture channels that cross the upper back and neck originate in the hands and fingers, pain in the arms, wrists, and hands can have their origin in the upper (cervical spine). Sometimes upper back pain is not treated with points located in the upper back. These pains in the neck, shoulder, and upper back are treated using acupuncture points on the hands and wrists.

Acupuncture and Mid Back Pain

This area of the back is generally called the thoracic area. In this area you'll find acupuncture points used to treat not only mid-back pain but also disharmonies of the heart, liver, spleen, and gallbladder.


Acupuncture for Relief of Low Back Pain

The lower back consists of the lower thoracic vertibrae and the sacral vertibrae. Since the sciatic nerve emerges from the low back, acupuncture also treats sciatica, which may cause hip pain, leg pain, or foot pain. In the region of the lower back are found the shu points to treat problems of the kidneys, urinary bladder, and both small and large intestines.


Acupuncture and Back Pain Research

Study Shows Acupuncture Trumps Standard Care for Back Pain Relief
By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

May 11, 2009 -- The ancient technique of acupuncture helps relieve chronic back pain better than standard care such as medications or physical therapy, according to a new study.

Even more surprising, all three acupuncture techniques tested -- including a "sham" technique with toothpicks and no skin puncturing -- worked better than the usual care given for the problem.

"Acupuncture-like treatments had a positive effect overall on people's chronic back pain," says study researcher Dan Cherkin, PhD, a senior investigator at Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle.

The study is published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Cherkin and colleagues assigned 638 men and women with chronic low back pain ...to one of four groups:

• Individualized acupuncture group. Patients received acupuncture treatment based on a customized prescription for acupuncture points.
• Standardized acupuncture group. Patients received an acupuncture treatment considered effective by experts for chronic low back pain.
• Simulated acupuncture group. Patients received a treatment that mimics needle acupuncture but used a toothpick in a needle guide tube without penetrating the skin.
• Usual care group. Patients continued whatever they were doing, such as taking pain medicine or undergoing physical therapy.

Acupuncture treatments were given two times a week for three weeks, then once a week for four weeks. The researchers measured back pain-related problems and dysfunction at eight weeks, a half year, and one year after the treatments.

Participants . . . were told only that the researchers were comparing three different methods of stimulating acupuncture points.


Acupuncture vs. 'Usual Care'

"The individualized acupuncture did not provide any benefit over the standardized acupuncture," Cherkin tells WebMD. "The simulated acupuncture, which did stimulate the standardized points, also had the same effect. All three did better than usual care."

Those who got any of the acupuncture treatments were more likely than those getting usual care to have a "meaningful" improvement in the dysfunction scale, which reflects the ability to engage in activities of daily living. Overall, 60% of the acupuncture-treated patients, but just 39% of the usual-care group patients, had meaningful improvements in dysfunction, the researchers found.

Acupuncturists often use Chinese herbal medicines to assist back pain treatments. Topical herbs or poultices are useful for back pain caused by injury. Internal herbals are used to promote flow and relieve pain, especially when weak energy is a cause of poor flow.


CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES FOR BACK PAIN



Acupuncture Points for Back Pain

There are about 100 different acupuncture points located on the back. These acupuncture points exist on the Governing Vessel Channel, directly over the spine, the Urinary Bladder channel, which runs in two rows parallel to the spine, the small intestine channel, and the Hua To points located adjacent to each side of the vertibrae. A few examples of these acupuncture points are:

Acupuncture Point Shen Zhu • Governing Vessel 12 Body Pillar.
Location: Below the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra (T3).



Acupuncture Point Ming Men • Governing Vessel 4 Life Gate. Reunion point on Curious Meridian Dai Mo.
Location: On the lower back, below the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2).

Clears Heat
Regulates The Governing Vessel
Tonifies The Kidneys
Benefits The Lumbar Spine



Acupuncture Point Shen Shu • Bladder 23 Kidney Shu. Back Shu of the Kidney that connects with Front Mu GB25.
Location: On the lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2).
Caution Avoid the Kidneys.

Strengthens Essence
Nourishes Kidney Yin
Firms Kidney Qi
Opens And Regulates The Water Passages
Benefits The Uterus
Benefits The Ears And Eyes
Strengthens The Lumbar Region
Regulates Urination

Acupuncture Point Da Chang Shu • Bladder 25 Large Intestine Shu. Back Shu of the Large Intestine that connects with Front Mu ST25.
Location: On the lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the fourth lumbar vertebra (L4).

Regulates The Intestines
Transforms Stagnation
Strengthens The Lumbar Region And Legs
Alleviates Pain


Acupuncture Point Wei Zhong • Bladder 40 Bend Middle. He Sea Point on the Bladder Channel. Command Point for the Upper and Lower Back. Earth Point on Water Meridian.
Location: At the midpoint of the popliteal fossa.

Strengthens The Lumbar Region And Knees
Activates The Channel
Alleviates Pain
Tonifies Kidney Qi
Dispels Wind Damp

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