Acupuncture and Natural Therapies for Sciatica
and Back Pain
Luca Fioretti PhD
0208 123 7637
Finchley Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
103 Ballards Lane
London N3 1XY
The premier acupuncture clinic serving Finchley, Golders Green, Muswell Hill, Hendon, Totteridge and Whetstone areas
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have proven to be effective for many people who suffer from back pain and sciatica.
Sciatica, which is characterized by nervy and gnawing pain that radiates from the low back down one or both legs, can be debilitating and frustrating. Many patients have tried conventional therapies such as pain medications, physical therapy, and chiropractic but still struggle with the condition.
Back pain can be in the low, mid or upper back, it generally due to poor posture for many years and compression on disks or nerves, it can reach a point in where the person may need to take time off work often.
In acupuncture theory, pain is believed to be due to stuck energy and blood in the body. It is always a result of impeded circulation, which can lead to inflammation or degeneration. In the case of sciatica, the gall bladder meridian is typically in need of energetic balancing. This meridian runs from the piriformis muscle in the buttocks down the lateral side of the legs, which is the pathway of the sciatic
nerve.
Acupuncture is a gentle treatment that is intended to be very relaxing, restorative and balancing. As the primary goal is to regulate the flow of Qi in the Gallbladder and Bladder meridian, one often notices that their entire sense of health is boosted from the treatment: physically, emotionally, and mentally. Most of my sciatic patients come for treatment 1-2 times per week for 4 weeks, at which time we assess for progress. The treatment plan depends upon the severity of the pain and how long it has been there.
Chinese herbal medicine can also play an important role in treating this condition. The following herbal formulas have all been proven to be useful in the treatment of sciatica:
du huo ji sheng tang: One of the main formulas for treating pain and spasm from the waist down
you gui wan: A kidney tonic formula that treats low back pain due to internal cold and deficiency
yao tong pian: One of the main formulas for all kinds of low back pain
Other people have found the following supplements to be helpful for sciatica:
There are also specific yoga posture that are helpful for both prevention and for active flare ups. These poses are best learned from a yoga instructor, as it is fairly easy to exacerbate this condition with stretching.
With the right combination of therapies, sciatica typically responds very well to treatment. I recommend combining acupuncture with Chinese herbs for a few weeks and possibly adding some targeted stretches. This should go a long way in your recovery from this painful condition.
If you have sciatica, call Luca at 0208 123 7637 to set up your first acupuncture appointment today!
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