Pain takes many different forms – dull, aches, sharp, throbbing and stabbing are different descriptions of pain. They point to somewhat different syndromes and give a clue where to start focusing attention.
The area where back pain is experienced is also important – different channels (Jing Luo) transverse different areas of the back. It is also important to note when the pain manifests – whether the pain is there upon waking up, during activity or going to sleep.
Back pain in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture is often accompanied by other symptoms. Sore knees, bladder issues, sleepless nights leading to low energy, neck pain and brain fog are all common symptoms that can occur. As an acupuncturist, we’re always trying to get to the root cause of pain, so ‘looking behind’ the pain itself can lead to varied questions about lifestyle.
Given the above, back pain can have many different causes. There are however, a few main ones that are common;
- Cold and Damp Environment – Ireland is a good example of a damp environment. Damp slows things down, prevents Qi (Energy) from moving properly and allied to cold the effect is magnified. If you work or live in a cold and damp for a prolonged period of time, it can slow down the movement of Qi and Xue (blood) leading to lower back pain. Environmental factors tend to work themselves into the organs over time leading to more complications such as back pain, stiffness, bladder issues and headaches.
- Damp and Hot Environment – Similar to damp but this time mixed with heat. Working or living in damp and hot environments can also affect the movement of Qi and Xue (blood).
- Injury – Injuries can lead to stagnation of Qi and Xue (blood). This can be from an accident, posture, repeated actions, sprains and contusions. They can be acute (sudden) or chronic (brought on over a period of time).
- Diet is often overlooked as a cause of back pain. In chinese medical theory, diet can affect our internal environment. Think lots of raw or damp forming foods. These will have a similar affect eventually to that of living in a cold and damp environment – the slow down of Qi and Xue (blood).
In Ireland, injury (whether acute or chronic) and cold damp are the most common causes of back pain. Back Pain can significantly alter your quality of life. The goal of acupuncture for back pain is to manage and reduce the pain, relax the muscles of the back and treat any underlying cause. This will allow a greater range of motion and improve the quality of life.
Depending on the cause and nature of the back pain, points can very from local points (i.e. points around the source of the pain), to distal points (perhaps on the legs etc). It very much depends on the practitioners view of how the organ system, muscles, nerves, Qi (energy) and Xue (blood) are playing off each other.
