It is estimated that at least 50% of all people in Western industrialized countries will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their life. Millions of working days are lost each year due to the often debilitating effects of lower back pain and sciatica.
Acupuncture in particular can give great relief to the symptoms of chronic or acute lower back pain and sciatica. This includes chronic or acute backache and sciatica due to lower lumbar ligamentous strain, spondylosis, osteoarthritis, disc herniation, and the all too common lower back pain and or sciatica due to unknown cause.
From a Chinese medical perspective whenever there is pain the body this is seen as a warning sign from our body letting us know that the energy flow has been compromised. There are 4 main pathologies that can result in this impaired energy flow, which in turn causes pain. These pathologies are; retention of cold dampness, stagnation of qi and blood, kidney deficiency, and liver qi stagnation. Based on the patients specific symptoms we can differentiate between these 4 pathologies and treat accordingly.
To understand what Chinese medicine means when it refers to “retention of cold dampness” you need to understand that many of the concepts of Chinese medicine come from observing nature. In Chinese medicine it is acknowledge that we as human beings are a part of nature, and what happens in nature can give us clues as to what can happen in our own body. Therefore, signs of dampness in the body would swelling and stiffness (from excess fluid or “damp” accumulation), or pain that is worse in damp weather. Signs of cold in the low back might be improvement of symptoms when heat is applied, and aggravation of symptoms when exposed to cold.
Stagnation of qi (energy) and blood relates to acute sprains of the low back or chronic low back pain resulting from repeated sprains. In this situation because the pain is due to stagnation (a lack of movement of qi and blood) the pain becomes worse when the patient is NOT moving and feels better when they engage in light exercise.
From a Chinese medical perspective our kidney’s store our essence. Essence is similar to our Western medical concept of our constitution. Essence is passed down to us by our parents at birth and it determines (in part) how strong we will be and what kinds of illnesses we will be susceptible to. It also naturally depletes with age. Certain lifestyles burn up their essence quicker than others. The low back is the “house” of the kidney’s. Therefore the strength of the low back can reflect the strength of the kidney energy. Low back pain from kidney deficiency usually occurs in older age, is worse with activity, and is experienced as a dull constant ache.
From a Chinese medical perspective the liver energy controls the sinews (tendons and ligaments) of the body. Therefore a pathology of the liver such as liver qi stagnation can cause contraction, spasm and stiffness in the sinews of the low back. The liver energy is also closely related to our emotional states. The liver can become stagnate from emotional stress, anger, resentment, frustration and guilt. The onset of this type of low back pain is often related to some sort of emotional trauma, or stressful event.
A thorough intake at Valley Holistic Healing can determine the cause of your lower back pain and or sciatica, followed by proper treatment, and relief of your symptoms.
