TCM Patterns of Back Pain

Chinese medicine classifies back pain by pattern rather than anatomy. Kidney deficiency patterns produce a dull, chronic ache that improves with rest. Cold-damp obstruction produces stiff, heavy pain worse in cold, damp weather. Blood stasis produces fixed, stabbing pain, often post-injury. Liver Qi stagnation produces pain that migrates and is related to stress.

Accurate pattern diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment — it explains why identical MRI findings in two patients can require very different acupuncture protocols.

Treatment Approaches

Our back pain treatments combine:

• Local and distal acupuncture points along the Bladder and Governing Vessel meridians
• Electro-acupuncture for nerve pain and disc-related radiculopathy
• Cupping or gua sha for myofascial tension and Blood stasis patterns
• Moxibustion for cold-damp and Kidney deficiency patterns
• Tui Na massage and postural advice as appropriate

Sciatica and Disc Pain

Sciatica — pain radiating from the lower back into the buttock, leg, or foot — responds particularly well to acupuncture. We use specific 'channel divergence' techniques and electro-acupuncture along the Bladder and Gallbladder channels to directly address the radiculopathy pattern.

Working with Your GP or Specialist

Acupuncture is endorsed by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the Therapeutic Goods Administration as an appropriate management option for chronic back pain. We work collaboratively with your GP, physiotherapist, or spinal surgeon as part of a multidisciplinary approach.

Back pain does not define your future — with the right diagnosis and treatment, movement becomes possible again.