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The Experts Say -
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Approach |
The lumbar spine
supports the weight of
everything above the
waist. It’s an
important axis in many
physical activities.
The lumbar spine can
flex, extend, lateral
flex and rotate.
It is one of the most
mobile body parts during
activities of daily
living. And
because of that, it also
sustains many chronic
and acute injuries that
result in back pain.
Four Triggers for Back
Pain
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1 |
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Wet
cold: Chronic exposure to a wet cold
environment, exposure to wind after excessive
sweating from physical activity, exposure to the
rain and wearing wet clothes are all triggers to
back pain.
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2 |
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Moist
heat: Chronic exposure to a humid and hot
environment increases the risk of contracting
exogenous pathogens with heat and damp
properties. These factors can cause meridian
blockage and back pain.
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3
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Poor
Qi and blood circulation: Trauma, chronic
illnesses, bad posture and poor biomechanics can
all disrupt Qi and blood circulation. Persistent
poor circulation can cause back pain.
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4 |
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Weak
body constitution: Genetic factors, stress,
aging, chronic illnesses, and sexual indulgence
can deplete kidney essence and nourishment to
muscles and connective tissues, and eventually
result in back pain.
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to Top
Acute and Chronic Back
Pain
Acute back pain
typically occurs when
you bend over with
improper biomechanics.
It is due to direct or
indirect trauma to the
connective tissues,
spinal joints and
intervertebral discs in
the lower back.
Once your doctor rules
out an emergency, such
as spinal fracture,
dislocation, or disc
herniation, you may
consider TCM treatment
for your back pain.
Chronic back pain is
common among the
middle-aged and the
elderly. TCM
treatment for chronic
low back pain focuses on
replenishing blood and
the kidney system, and
ridding the body of cold
and dampness. Those who
suffer chronic back pain
should increase intake
of foods with warming
properties, such as
shrimp, mussel, beef,
lamb, and eel.
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TCM Treatment for Back
Pain
Acupuncture and Herbal
Formula
Case study:
Mr. Lin, 44, started to
experience back pain
when he lifted heavy
with improper form 8
months ago. His
medical doctor found a
disc herniation between
L4/5, and operated on
it. However, he
continued to have back
pain post-surgery.
His pain was worsened
after a slip and fall.
He was advised to
increase his
painkiller’s dosage to
relieve the pain.
Due to severe back pain,
he had to stop working
and sought help from TCM.
I rendered acupuncture
treatment on JiaJi
points, FengShi,
WeiZhong, DaChang Shu,
ShuGu, ZhongDu, KunLun,
RenZhong, HouXi, and
Ashi points. He
reported immediate pain
relief after treatment.
He was also prescribed
an herbal formula to use
twice a day that
includes malaytea
scurfpea fruit (bu gu
zhi), largehead
atractylodes rhizome (bai
zhu), suberect
spatholobus stem (ji xie
teng), Himalayan teasel
root (xu duan), red
paeony root (chi shao),
Chinese angelica (dang
gui), cinnamon bark (rou
gui), and common
clubmoss herb (shen jin
cao). 2 weeks
later, he was
essentially pain-free,
and was able to go back
to work.
Prevention and Safety
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1 |
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Proper
sitting posture: When seated, your back should
be straight and against the back of the chair.
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Standing and walking: When standing, straighten
your back, retract your shoulders, slightly pull
your belly button to your spine, and maintain a
neutral spine.
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3
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Rest
and sleep: Choose a moderately firm mattress.
Side sleeping is preferred.
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Lifting: When lifting a heavy object, keep it
close to midline, so you can use the power from
your legs and shoulders to lift.
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Exercise: Adequate physical activities, such as
strolling, swimming and jogging.
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Foods to Avoid
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Lightly flavored food is preferred. Avoid
fatty, greasy, cold-natured, spicy and
stimulating foods.
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Fresh
fruit and vegetables, and high-fiber foods are
encouraged, such as mulberry, walnut, cashew,
and goji berry.
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3
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Calcium-rich food is encouraged, such as milk,
sesame, enoki mushroom, clam, and seaweed.
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4 |
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Avoid
bamboo shoot, Chinese sauerkraut, mango, and
banana.
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Avoid
tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and strong tea.
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Culinary Medicine
Recipes
Here are a few culinary
medicine recipes to
share. It is worth
noting that culinary
medicine is great for
ongoing wellness care,
but is not equivalent to
prescribed herbal
medicine.
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1. Pig’s kidney soup
with eucommia bark (du
zhong)
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Ingredients: Eucommia bark 50g, one pig’s
kidney
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Directions:
a. Add both ingredients in a slow
cooker with adequate water.
b. Simmer till
everything is cooked.
c. Salt to taste.
d. Serve warm.
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Benefits: This soup can strengthen the back
and nourish the kidneys. It improves
circulation and unblocks meridians. It’s
best for middle-aged males who have back and leg
pain. Use 1-2 times a week.
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2. Pig tail and
sacrum soup with
Himalayan teasel root (xu
duan) and goji berry
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Ingredients: Pig tail and sacrum, Himalayan
teasel root (xu duan) 25g, goji berry 25g
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Directions:
a. Add all ingredients in a slow
cooker with adequate water.
b. Simmer till
everything is cooked.
c. Salt to taste.
d. Serve warm.
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Benefits: Himalayan teasel root nourishes
the liver, strengthens the skeletal system.
Similar to eucommia bark, it treats lumbar
muscle strains, osteoporosis, osteophytes,
osteonecrosis, and complications after trauma.
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3. Fleece flower root
(he shou wu) silkie
chicken soup
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Ingredients: Fleece flower root 8g, silkie
chicken 300g, ginger 2 slices, goji berry 10g
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Directions:
a. Boil the chicken to get rid of
any blood, and then rinse it under cold water.
b. Add chicken, fleece flower root, and ginger in a
pot and cover all ingredients with water.
c. Bring to a boil then simmer for 30 minutes.
d. Add goji berry and salt, and simmer for another
10 minutes.
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Benefits: This soup nourishes both the liver
and kidney systems. It is best for those
with kidney and liver deficiency, back pain,
lightheadedness, anemic, and premature graying.
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Return to Top
Article contributed by:
Physician Huang Li Xia
Ma Kuang Healthcare
Group
Dated: November 2016
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Ma Kuang
Healthcare
Group is
one of the
leading
healthcare
groups in
holistic
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine (TCM)
products and
services in
Singapore.
Founded in
1999, Ma
Kuang has
expanded
rapidly from
its first
TCM clinic
in Middle
Road to
today’s
largest
chain of TCM
clinics in
Singapore. |
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