Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for frozen shoulder by reducing pain, inflammation, and improving mobility. It works by inserting fine needles to stimulate endorphin release and enhance blood circulation. Clinical trials and case studies show significant relief in pain and increase in range of motion for those with frozen shoulder. Acupuncture’s holistic approach targets […]
Category Archives: Pain
Acupuncture can address knee pain. One of the common reasons for knee pain is osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Osteoarthritis is defined as “a degenerative joint disease, in which the tissues in the joint break down over time” by NIH. It is the most common knee problem that I encounter, and it could also be one of the most difficult cases to treat with acupuncture.
In this article, I would like to focus on the type of knee pain that responds to acupuncture very well: quadriceps tendonitis. https://www.knee-pain-explained.com/quadriceps-tendonitis.html
The tendon of quadriceps femoris is anchored on the top side of the knee cap. The main function of this large muscle (Which actually consists of four individual muscles) is to straighten the leg. As a secondary function, it flexes the thigh, bringing it closer to the abdomen.
A condition commonly known as tennis elbow is pain felt on the outside of the elbow. It is due to the inflammation or minor tear of the tendons that connect the forearm muscles to the elbow.
The name, tennis elbow, suggests that it is caused by tightly gripping a racket and engaging in a back hand stroke with poor technique. However, it does not affect just tennis players. Overuse of the hands and forearm may cause inflammation or minor tear of the extensor muscles on the forearm for anybody.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is basically the compression of the median nerve, caused by the narrowing of the small space called the carpal tunnel that the median nerve goes through. During my acupuncture training in school, one of my teachers told us that the problem in the wrist was never just in the wrist.
Since the median nerve originates in the neck and travels down the front of the shoulder, arm, forearm and to the hands, any inflammation and swelling of the muscles, tendons, ligament, joints, and the surrounding tissues on the path will compress on the nerve.
The name of this point is 四讀, Shi Toku (Japanese) or Si Du (Chinese). It means “Four Rivers”. Apparently, it indicates the region in China where the Yellow River and three other large rivers merge, and the name suggests “big currents”. I think it is reasonable to assume that this point is where big currents of Blood or Qi occur.
Anatomically, because of its location in the central and pivotal part of the body, this channel is important for the core stability. As shown in the illustration, the fine balance between the core extensor muscle group and the core flexor muscle group is kept in this area. The acupuncture point GB 34 (also named Tai Myaku) is frequently used to treat low back pain and rib pain for this reason.
In an acupuncture session, the practitioner often uses a channel that is seemingly unrelated to your complaints. Treating low back pain by using the gallbladder channel is a good example.
If you are reading this because you are experiencing low back pain right now, I am very sorry to hear that. I have tweaked my back a few times since the age of 35, and it has sucked each time. At first, I attributed it to aging. After it happened a few times, I started […]
In the previous article, I discussed a type of neck pain that is associated with repetitive motion of the forearms and hands, such as typing. In this article, I would like to touch on the neck pain that is felt mostly on the back of the neck, on the cervical spine, at the base of […]
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