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How Traditional Chinese Medicine helps Pains
There are two common types of pains:
(a) Pain in the lumbar (lower back) area may vary in intensity,sharpness
and cause. Low back pain is commonly caused by mechanical or structural
problems including fractures, muscle strain and pressure on a nerve.
The general etiological factors are:
1. Patient attacked by pathogenic (disease producing) cold and damp.
2. Deficiency of the kidney qi.
3. Trauma due to a muscle sprain or contusion.
3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation
(b) Pain in the shoulder could have a variety of causes ranging
from injury to the shoulder, excess strain on the shoulder, improper
posture while working or sleeping, exposure to cold etc.
(1) pain in shoulder and the shoulder joint is hard to move in all
directions.
(2) pain also affects the neck and back
Common Syndromes and Treatments in Chinese Medicine
1. Cold damp: Lower back pain occurs after exposure to cold and
damp and rainy days. The lumbar region has a heavy sensation and
there may be a stiffness of the muscles. There may also be less
extension and flexability in the back. Pain can extend to the lower
limbs (legs). Sometimes a cold feeling extends in the affected area.
The tongue coating is white and sticky, while the pulse is deep
and weak, or deep and slow.
2. Kidney deficiency: Usually a pain and soreness occur in the
lower back, and the loins and knees feel tired and weak. If there
is a deficiency of kidney-yang, then there is a cramp-like feeling
in the lower abdomen and the limbs are cold. The tongue turns pale,
and the pulse is deep and slow. Also, the mouth and throat feel
dry, the face is flushed, and there is a feverish feeling in the
chest, palms and soles. The tongue is reddened with scanty coating,
and the pulse is weak or rapid.
3. Trauma: Trauma can cause rigidity (stiffness) and pain in the
area that was injured. The tongue is pink or dark purple when affected
by trauma. The pulse is tense and uncertain. There is poor circulation
of qi and blood when the meridians are blocked from cold and dampness.
This causes the lower back pain. The kidney deficiency also causes
pain. When kidney does not have enough essence, this means that
the bone lacks marrow. It causes painful soreness and weakness in
the lumbar region and the knee. Injury in the lumbar area causes
retardation of qi and blood, and that causes further pain.
Herbal medicine can help normalize the circulation of qi and blood,
easing the pain in the lower back.
Therapeutic principle: Points are selected from Du and the Foot-Taiyang
Meridians to regulate the circulation of qi and blood.
Therapeutic principle: By using acupuncture you can promote the
circulation of the qi and blood, release pain, relax tendons, reduce
wind and cold
Acupuncture and Moxibustion are both applied to cold-damp type.
If there is deficiency of the kidney yang, apply needles with reinforcing
method and moxibustion. If there is deficiency of the kidney yin,
use the reinforcing method only. For traumatic low back pain, apply
reducing method or pricking to cause bleeding.
Generally, Qigong can relieve pain as it improves the circulation
of qi and blood. Results won't be visable right away, however it
takes less time for Qigong to heal pain than other ailments
(c) Life style
1) Don't live in the damp place, such as basement.
2) The Low Back should always remain warm.
3) Take more rest.
4) Take care not to fall down and get hurt.
5) Don't carry heavy stuff.
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