How Acupuncture Can Help With Back Pain Healing your back naturally. Scot Somes,LAc. Center for Integrated Eastern Medicine 303-810-9255 www.easternacucenter.com Introduction: Your name, what you do, how long in practice and thank them for coming. Thank you for coming down today, today we are going to talk about how acupuncture can help with stress. It’s an ancient medicine for a modern world and has been around used for over 5000 years.

Back Pain in the U.S. 80% of the population has had back pain at one time or another 50% of Americans have some form of chronic back pain Second most common reason to visit a doctor One of the most common reasons for missing work Most prevalent cause of disability under the age of 35

Types of Back Pain Upper back pain Middle back pain Low back pain Sciatica

Western causes of Back Pain Muscular strain Ligamentous sprains Herniated disks Spinal stenosis Osteoporoisis Arthritis Trauma Fibromyalgia Spinal subluxation No notes here.

What you can do Ignore it Worst Option Bed rest Pain killers Surgery Acupuncture Chiropractic Massage Worst Option Doesn’t resolve root cause, can help Can help, but can cover-up root issues Short term, possible last resort Natural, addresses root cause, can take time No notes here.

How can acupuncture help? Uncovers the “root cause” of back pain Focuses upon correcting the problem and strengthening the body Unblocks the body’s internal flow of healing energies Facilitates the free-flow of healing energies throughout the meridian networks Reduces inflammation Expedites the healing process Alleviates pain No notes here.

Acupuncture and Back Pain “Meridians not only feed vital energies to their related organs, they also reflect any pathological disturbance in those organs, thus providing a convenient and highly accurate tool for diagnosis as well as therapy.” No notes included here.

Acupuncture and Meridians Meridians are river networks inside our body What are Meridians? It’s important to create the analogy of meridians being similar to rivers. “All across our planet, we have rivers.” “Wherever water flows on the planet it bring nourishment to the plants, the forest and the people. Wherever water doesn’t flow, it brings drought, death and disease.” “Similarly, your body is lined with rivers, that we call Meridians, that provide nourishment to every cell, tissue, muscle, tendon and organ. Wherever Qi flows in the body it bring nourishment to the tissues, organs in the body.” “The meridians flow throughout your entire body, along the back of your body and the front of your body (trace the meridian pathways here). Each of these dots (pointing to the points on image), is called an acupuncture point. Acupuncture points along the body are similar to gates, through acupuncture you open up the gates and allow Qi to freely flow through the body, allowing all of the organs, tissues and cells to be nourished relieving the “disturbances”, leading to good health.” “Each Meridian has a corresponding organ that it supports and provides nourishment for. Each Meridian pathway is named for its corresponding organ system (name them here) Not only do they have superficial aspect on the body, but they also have a deeper/internal connection to the organs within the body.” Tip: Name each of the Meridian systems with corresponding organs. Trace the flow of Qi throughout the body.

An Ancient View of Back Pain Qi travels through our meridian system Qi provides nourishment for every cell, tissue, muscle, gland and organ When Qi becomes blocked and imbalanced, pain and disease result As water flows through river networks nourishing our planet, Qi flows through our meridian networks nourishing our body

Acupuncture and Back Pain Flow of Qi Stagnation = Pain Water flows in rivers, Qi flows in meridians Meridians are the river network inside “Qi flows through the body in a specific and defined ways. (trace the flow of Qi) From one meridian and organ network to the next, just like this.” “If there is a blockage, or a “dam”, in one meridian, it will affect everything else downstream.” “When there is a blockage, the cells, tissues, muscles, organs and glands will receive improper nourishment and therefore express ill health and ultimately disease and pain in the body. Various symptoms and signs will develop. This is what an acupuncturist calls an imbalance, and as an acupuncturist, I am trained to detect and correct where these various meridian imbalances are.” Tip: Explain the concept of excess on one side of the blockage and depletion on the other side, and improper nourishment. This leads to imbalance and symptoms and signs in the body

Back Pain and Bi Syndrome How TCM views back pain Back pain = Bi syndrome Bi syndrome is caused by: Obstruction of Qi and Blood Sluggishness of Qi and Blood Invasion of external influences

What is Bi Syndrome? Bi syndrome is the most common condition acupuncture treats. It can either be acute or chronic. Bi syndrome manifests as pain, soreness, or numbness of muscles, tendons and joints. It is the result of the body being "invaded" by external environmental factors such as Wind, Damp, Cold and Heat. Bi syndrome symptoms reflect which factor has invaded the body, affecting the flow of Qi and Blood.

Diagnosing Pain with TCM Characteristics of Bi Syndrome? Pain Numbness Heaviness Swelling Soreness Aching Throbbing

Eastern Causes of Back Pain Environmental conditions influence our health Wind Damp Cold Heat Phlegm Stasis Trauma

Diagnosing Pain with TCM Wind Bi Syndrome Classified as wandering pain Caused by invasion of Wind Pain moves from joint to joint Sore and painful muscles and joints Limited range of motion (ROM)

Diagnosing Pain with TCM Damp Bi Syndrome Classified as fixed pain Caused by invasion of Dampness Aggravated by damp weather Does not radiate Soreness Swelling of joints and muscles Feeling of heaviness Numbness of limbs

Diagnosing Pain with TCM Cold Bi Syndrome Classified as aching pain Caused by invasion of Cold Usually fixed location May be worse at night and better during the day Severe joint or muscle pain Limited ROM

Diagnosing Pain with TCM Heat Bi Syndrome Classified as hot/inflamed pain Caused when Wind, Damp and/or Cold linger too long, stagnating Qi and turning into heat Can be caused by underlying weakness in body Painful, hot joints Radiating Throbbing Red and swollen joints Severe pain Limited ROM

Diagnosing Pain with TCM Phlegm Bi Syndrome Classified as deep joint pain Caused when previous 4 types linger Chronic Muscular atrophy and weakness Swollen and deformed joints

Diagnosing Pain with TCM Stasis Bi Syndrome Classified as stagnant pain Usually caused by Qi and Blood stagnation Fixed location Stabbing sensation May be throbbing

Diagnosing Pain with TCM Bi syndrome can be related to: All painful conditions Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Osteoarthritis Muscular sprain/strain Sciatica Gout

Treating Pain with TCM Make correct diagnosis If Cold diagnosis, use warming methods If Damp diagnosis, use drying and dampness elimination methods If Heat diagnosis, use cooling methods Choose most effective acupuncture points Local points Distal points Ear and hand points Choose adjunct therapies Determine treatment schedule

Treating Pain with TCM Choose adjunct therapies Electro-stim Gwa Sha Tui Na Cupping Moxibustion Infra-red heat lamp Herbs Topical oils and/or patches

Treating Pain with TCM Provide self-care education Movement rehabilitation Home-care point stimulation Exercise and stretching

What You Can Do Movement rehabilitation Lift smart Sit smart Let your legs do the work. Move straight up and down. Keep your back straight and bend with your knees. Avoid twisting. Sit smart Choose a seat with good low back support that has arm rests and a swivel base. Keep your hips and knees level. Stand smart Maintain a neutral pelvis. No notes included here.

What You Can Do Home-care point stimulation Bladder 40 – Located in the depression at the back of the knee. Bladder 62 – In the depression directly below the outer ankle. Bladder 60 – In the depression between the tip of the outer ankle and Achilles tendon. Small Intestine 3 – When a loose fist is made, the point is on the outside of the palm, where the skin protrudes. No notes included here. Large Intestine 4 – On top of the hand, in between the thumb and first finger. Gallbladder 39 – Approximately three inches above the outer ankle, just posterior to the bone. Local points

What You Can Do Exercise and stretching – back pain Forward Bend – Stretches and opens up the Bladder meridian. Bicycle Pedal Leg Press – Stretches and opens up the Bladder meridian. Forward Bend 1) Sit on the floor with legs stretched out in front of you. Keep your knees slightly bent, do not lock them. If this causes any discomfort, you can sit on a folded blanket and bend your knees slightly out to the side.   2) With chin slightly tucked, slowly stretch forward, reaching your hands toward your toes. If you cannot touch your toes, reach for your knees, shins or ankles. Relax your head. 3) As you breathe in, focus your breath along your back and spine. Expanding outwards with each inhalation, and imagining that you are expanding your back like a big balloon. As you exhale, allow your body to relax deeper into the stretch. 4) Hold this position for a few breaths. Bicycle Pedal Leg Press 1) Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Keep your heels together and knees straight. 2) Take a deep breath in, as you exhale, bend your upper body forward from the hips. Grab your feet if you can; if not, grab your knees or ankles. 3) Relax your neck, allowing your head to hang down. 4) Push your left hip and left heel forward, away from you, and pull your right hip and right heel closer to you. 5) As you push forward with your left foot, reach forward with your extended left arm. 6) Rhythmically alternate the synchronized leg and arm movements for each side. Embrace the Sun Forward Bend 1) While sitting on the floor, stretch your left leg out to the side and bend your right leg in with your heel gently touching your groin. If this causes any discomfort, you can sit on a folded blanket. 2) As you inhale, raise your arms to the sky and stretch upward. Keep your back straight and turn your torso slightly toward the extended leg. 3) Keep your arms extended, and with an exhalation bend forward from your hips over your extended leg and relax your neck, allowing your head to hang down. Try to grab your toes, ankles or shins if you can. Hold this position for a few breaths. 4) Upon inhalation, raise up, switch legs and repeat for the other side. Repeat steps 1-3. Embrace the Sun Forward Bend – Stretches and opens up the Bladder meridian.

Treating Pain with TCM Tips to remain healthy Remain active Avoid prolonged bed rest Warm up and stretch before physical activities Maintain proper posture Sleep on a supportive mattress Work with your acupuncturist

What Else Acupuncture Treats The NIH and WHO acknowledge acupuncture can be helpful for: • Addiction - alcohol, drug, smoking • Anxiety • Arthritis • Asthma • Bronchitis • Carpal tunnel syndrome • Chronic fatigue • Colitis • Common cold • Constipation • Dental pain • Depression • Diarrhea • Digestive trouble • Dizziness • Dysentery • Emotional problems • Eye problems    • Facial palsy/tics • Fatigue • Fertility • Fibromyalgia • Gingivitis • Headache • Hiccough • Incontinence • Indigestion • Irritable bowel syndrome • Low back pain • Menopause • Menstrual irregularities • Migraine • Morning sickness • Nausea • Osteoarthritis • Pain • PMS • Pneumonia • Reproductive problems • Rhinitis • Sciatica • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) • Shoulder pain • Sinusitis • Sleep disturbances • Smoking cessation • Sore throat • Stress • Tennis elbow • Tonsillitis • Tooth pain • Trigeminal neuralgia • Urinary tract Infections • Vomiting • Wrist pain NIH = National Institutes of Health

And has treated billions of people over the past 5,000 years. Most of All… Acupuncture Works And has treated billions of people over the past 5,000 years. No notes included here.

Center for Integrated Eastern Medicine, LLC Thank You! Offer educational information about acupuncture, and a free health pass for comprehensive evaluation. A Health Pass is a great tool for getting prospective patients through your door. It’s a card that features special rates, freebies, discounts, consultations—whatever your heart desires. Not only that, but each time you hand one out, you are taking a stand for our profession, spreading the idea that health can be achieved naturally through acupuncture care. This alone should be enough to make you want to hand a Health Pass to everyone you meet.   You can use the Health Pass concept in a variety of ways. For example, your existing patients are your best source for referrals, and they would most likely welcome the opportunity to give their friends and family members a special offer from you. You can also hand them out at screenings and talks or provide them to your networking partners—the possibilities are endless. Only have a limited amount available so when you offer them at the end of your presentation, your audience will know that they need to react now and that there is value to these passes. Scot Somes, LAc., MSTCM Center for Integrated Eastern Medicine, LLC 303-810-9255 www.easternacucenter.com