©2008 acupuncture media works. all rights reserved. how acupuncture can help with back pain healing...

©2008 Acupuncture Media Works. All rights reserved.

How Acupuncture Can

Help With Back PainHealing your back naturally.

Scot Somes,LAc.

Center for Integrated Eastern Medicine

303-810-9255www.easternacucenter.com


Back Pain in the U.S.• 80% of the population has had back pain at one time or

another

• 50% of Americans have some form of chronic back pain

• Second most common reason to visit a doctor

• One of the most common reasons for missing work

• Most prevalent cause of disability under the age of 35


Types of Back Pain• Upper back pain

• Middle back pain

• Low back pain

• Sciatica


Western causes of Back Pain• Muscular strain

• Ligamentous sprains

• Herniated disks

• Spinal stenosis

• Osteoporoisis

• Arthritis

• Trauma

• Fibromyalgia

• Spinal subluxation


What you can do• Ignore it

• Bed rest

• Pain killers

• Surgery

• Acupuncture

• Chiropractic

• Massage

Worst OptionDoesn’t resolve root cause, can help

Can help, but can cover-up root issuesShort term, possible last resort

Natural, addresses root cause, can take time


How can acupuncture help?• Uncovers the “root cause” of back pain

• Focuses upon correcting the problem and strengthening the body

• Unblocks the body’s internal flow of healing energies

• Facilitates the free-flow of healing energies throughout the meridian networks

• Reduces inflammation

• Expedites the healing process

• Alleviates pain


Acupuncture and Back Pain

“Meridians not only feed vital energies to their related organs, they also reflect any pathological disturbance in those organs, thus providing a convenient

and highly accurate tool for diagnosis as well as therapy.”


Acupuncture and Meridians

Meridians are river networks inside our body


An Ancient View of Back Pain• Qi travels through our meridian system

• Qi provides nourishment for every cell, tissue, muscle, gland and organ

• When Qi becomes blocked and imbalanced, pain and disease result

• As water flows through river networks nourishing our planet, Qi flows through our meridian networks nourishing our body


Acupuncture and Back Pain

Meridians are the river network insideWater flows in rivers, Qi flows in meridians

Flow of QiStagnation = Pain


Back Pain and Bi SyndromeHow TCM views back pain

• Back pain = Bi syndrome• Bi syndrome is caused by:

• Obstruction of Qi and Blood• Sluggishness of Qi and Blood • Invasion of external influences


What is Bi Syndrome?

Bi syndrome is the most common condition acupuncture treats. It can either be acute or chronic.

Bi syndrome manifests as pain, soreness, or numbness of muscles, tendons and joints. It is the result of the

body being "invaded" by external environmental factors such as Wind, Damp, Cold and Heat.

Bi syndrome symptoms reflect which factor has invaded the body, affecting the flow of Qi and Blood.


Diagnosing Pain with TCMCharacteristics of Bi Syndrome?

• Pain• Numbness• Heaviness• Swelling• Soreness• Aching• Throbbing


Eastern Causes of Back PainEnvironmental conditions influence our health

• Wind• Damp• Cold• Heat• Phlegm• Stasis• Trauma


Diagnosing Pain with TCM

• Wind Bi Syndrome• Classified as wandering pain• Caused by invasion of Wind• Pain moves from joint to joint• Sore and painful muscles and joints• Limited range of motion (ROM)



• Damp Bi Syndrome• Classified as fixed pain• Caused by invasion of Dampness• Aggravated by damp weather• Does not radiate• Soreness• Swelling of joints and muscles• Feeling of heaviness• Numbness of limbs



• Cold Bi Syndrome• Classified as aching pain• Caused by invasion of Cold• Usually fixed location• May be worse at night and better during the day• Severe joint or muscle pain• Limited ROM



• Heat Bi Syndrome• Classified as hot/inflamed pain• Caused when Wind, Damp and/or Cold linger

too long, stagnating Qi and turning into heat• Can be caused by underlying weakness in

body • Painful, hot joints• Radiating• Throbbing• Red and swollen joints• Severe pain• Limited ROM



• Phlegm Bi Syndrome• Classified as deep joint pain• Caused when previous 4 types linger• Chronic• Muscular atrophy and weakness• Swollen and deformed joints



• Stasis Bi Syndrome• Classified as stagnant pain• Usually caused by Qi and Blood stagnation• Fixed location• Stabbing sensation• May be throbbing



Bi syndrome can be related to:

• All painful conditions• Arthritis• Rheumatoid Arthritis• Osteoarthritis• Muscular sprain/strain• Sciatica• Gout


Treating Pain with TCM• Make correct diagnosis

• If Cold diagnosis, use warming methods• If Damp diagnosis, use drying and

dampness elimination methods• If Heat diagnosis, use cooling methods

• Choose most effective acupuncture points• Local points• Distal points• Ear and hand points

• Choose adjunct therapies• Determine treatment schedule


Treating Pain with TCMChoose adjunct therapies

• Electro-stim• Gwa Sha• Tui Na• Cupping• Moxibustion• Infra-red heat lamp• Herbs• Topical oils and/or patches


Treating Pain with TCMProvide self-care education

• Movement rehabilitation• Home-care point stimulation• Exercise and stretching


What You Can Do

• Lift smart– Let your legs do the work. – Move straight up and down. – Keep your back straight and bend with your knees. – Avoid twisting.

• Sit smart– Choose a seat with good low back support that has arm rests and

a swivel base. – Keep your hips and knees level.

• Stand smart– Maintain a neutral pelvis.

Movement rehabilitation


What You Can Do

Home-care point stimulation Bladder 40 – Located in the depression at the back of the knee.

Bladder 62 – In the depression directly below the outer ankle.

Small Intestine 3 – When a loose fist is made, the point is on the outside of the palm, where the skin protrudes.

Bladder 60 – In the depression between the tip of the outer ankle and Achilles tendon.

Large Intestine 4 – On top of the hand, in between the thumb and first finger.

Gallbladder 39 – Approximately three inches above the outer ankle, just posterior to the bone.

Local points


What You Can Do

Exercise and stretching – back pain

Forward Bend – Stretches and opens up the Bladder meridian.

Bicycle Pedal Leg Press – Stretches and opens up the

Bladder meridian.

Embrace the Sun Forward Bend – Stretches and opens up the Bladder meridian.


Treating Pain with TCMTips to remain healthy

• Remain active• Avoid prolonged bed rest• Warm up and stretch before physical activities• Maintain proper posture• Sleep on a supportive mattress• Work with your acupuncturist


What Else Acupuncture Treats

• Addiction - alcohol, drug, smoking• Anxiety• Arthritis• Asthma• Bronchitis• Carpal tunnel syndrome• Chronic fatigue• Colitis• Common cold• Constipation• Dental pain• Depression• Diarrhea• Digestive trouble• Dizziness• Dysentery• Emotional problems• Eye problems

• Facial palsy/tics• Fatigue• Fertility• Fibromyalgia• Gingivitis• Headache• Hiccough• Incontinence• Indigestion• Irritable bowel syndrome• Low back pain• Menopause• Menstrual irregularities• Migraine• Morning sickness• Nausea• Osteoarthritis• Pain • PMS

• Pneumonia• Reproductive problems• Rhinitis• Sciatica• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)• Shoulder pain• Sinusitis• Sleep disturbances• Smoking cessation• Sore throat• Stress• Tennis elbow• Tonsillitis• Tooth pain• Trigeminal neuralgia• Urinary tract Infections• Vomiting• Wrist pain

The NIH and WHO acknowledge acupuncture can be helpful for:


Most of All…

Acupuncture WorksAnd has treated billions of people over the past 5,000

years.


Thank You!

Scot Somes, LAc., MSTCM

Center for Integrated Eastern Medicine, LLC

303-810-9255

www.easternacucenter.com

©2008 acupuncture media works. all rights reserved. how acupuncture can help with back pain healing...

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