Low back pain is an extremely common concern, affecting anywhere from 75 to 90 percent of people at some point in their lives.  Low back pain is second only the common cold as a cause of lost days at work and is one of the most common reasons to seek medical care, including acupuncture. In fact, one of the top reasons that people get acupuncture treatments is for low back pain.

The Oriental Medicine Perspective of Low Back Pain

In spite of the large number of pathological conditions that can give rise to low back pain, up to 85% of the cases are classified by Western physicians as ‘non-specific’. When low back pain is looked at from an Oriental medicine perspective, it is seen as a disruption of the Qi within the area and associated with a specific disharmony and then treated accordingly.

The basis of acupuncture is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: “Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong” which means “free flow: no pain, no free flow: pain.”

In other words, any kind of pain or illness represents an obstruction in the normal flow of Qi or life force. Simply put acupuncture moves Qi restoring free flow.

The disruption of Qi that results in low back pain is usually associated with the following three disharmonies.  When reading these descriptions, please bear in mind the differences between Western anatomical organs and Oriental Medicine’s organ systems.  As distinct from the Western medical concept of internal organs, this concept from Traditional Oriental Medicine is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an anatomical organ. To differentiate between western or eastern concepts of organs the first letter is capitalized, therefore, in the description of weak Kidney Qi we are in no way associating this with disease of the kidney.  If you have questions on this, please drop me an email or send me a text and I will explain further.

Weak Kidney Qi – In Oriental medicine, the lower back is referred to as the “dwelling of the Kidneys. The majority of chronic low back pain conditions are associated with Kidney Qi Deficiency. This type of pain is dull and comes and goes. It is usually aggravated by over tiredness and improves with rest.

Stagnation of Qi and Blood – When the flow of Qi along the meridians that traverse the lumbar region becomes congested, it is referred to as the stagnation of Qi and blood. This presents with a severe stabbing pain that is worse with rest and better with movement, tender to touch and can be accompanied by stiffness and tightness.

Invasion of Cold and Dampness – Cold, damp type pain is worse in the morning and when the weather is cold and damp. This type of pain Improves with movement and the application of heat.  Stiffness and contraction of back muscles that is aggravated by rest indicates cold predominance while swelling, numbness and a heavy sensation are indicative of dampness.

Next time – Studies on Acupuncture and Low Back Pain