Acupuncture for Back Pain

Suffering from Low Back Pain? Acupuncture for Back Pain Makes a Difference

Lower back pain has reached epidemic proportions in the modern world. In the United States, it is a leading cause of missed work and is the number one cause of disability worldwide. Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in their lives. The social and economic impacts of this are almost beyond imagination. It seems our bodies strongly dislike the modern sedentary lifestyle that is becoming the norm throughout the world.

As anyone who has experienced back pain can attest, the pain can be debilitating, life-altering, and even terrifying. Once back pain strikes, it frequently happens that other parts of the body become overworked and out of balance as the body tries to compensate and protect the painful area. As such, it’s often hard to get back to normal life after an acute episode.

Modern allopathic medicine treats lower back pain with pain medication and bed rest, and perhaps with a prescription for physical therapy. This approach can help, but it often leaves people still experiencing some pain and seeking something different. If that’s you, consider natural ways to cure lower back pain.

Natural Ways to Relieve Lower Back Pain

In Chinese medicine, we view pain as a stagnation or blockage of qi–the vital life-force energy– and blood. When the body is healthy and pain-free, qi and blood are flowing normally throughout the body. When either becomes stagnant or blocked, whether from injury, trauma, stress, emotions, or lack of movement, pain ensues. On a more basic level, pain is also a sign from our bodies that something is out of balance, and we need to pay more attention to a certain area.

Acupuncture for Back Pain

Natural ways to relieve lower back pain with Chinese medicine consist of twice-weekly acupuncture for lower back pain relief during the acutely painful flare-up stage, and a custom herbal medicine formula designed to get the qi and blood moving normally again, as well as aid any underlying constitutional issues. As the patient improves, treatments can scale back to less often, eventually resulting in the patient being pain-free and back to full strength and mobility. Depending on the case, cupping therapy might also be applicable.

I also work with patients to help them develop better body awareness and cultivate an understanding of how sitting, posture, stress, exercise (improper or lack thereof), and diet all can play a role in low back pain. With proper treatment in the acute phase, patients typically recover quickly and notice a dramatic improvement after each visit. If you’re looking for lower back pain remedies in San Francisco, visit our practice to see what acupuncture can do for you.

What People Are Saying about Tim Asher’s Acupuncture for Back Pain

“Tim saves again! This time it was a herniated disc in my lower back that kept me up all night in misery. He made time for an extended treatment that relaxed me to the extent that I actually fell asleep on the table – that’s never happened before! Tim not only relieved my pain but also helped me let go of both the emotional circumstances associated with the injury and gave me positive insights into how to avoid future episodes. As a breastfeeding mom avoiding medications, I’m so grateful to Tim for his all-natural healing!”

— Kristin D., San Francisco