Acupuncture treatment for back pain

How does acupuncture help with lower back pain?

Most people know that acupuncture can treat back pain, but how does it actually work?

A 2021 meta-analysis by Su et al., which examined 13 randomised controlled trials and included 707 patients with acute low back pain, found that acupuncture provided modest but significant relief. Patients experienced both a reduction in pain intensity and a reduced need for medication. This research offers strong support for acupuncture as an effective treatment option for lower back pain.

Understanding Acupuncture for Pain Relief

In Chinese medicine, pain is understood as a blockage of Qi (energy) or blood within the body. An acupuncturist uses diagnostic tools such as pulse, tongue, and palpation to identify the underlying imbalances causing the pain.

The body is mapped with 12 primary channels (also known as meridians), each relating to different organs and systems. These channels are like rivers carrying Qi throughout the body. When the flow is blocked, just like a dam in a river, pain and dysfunction occur. See image below for an example of acupuncture channels on the posterior part of the body.

Acupuncture channels along the posterior part of the upper body

How Do Acupuncturists Choose Points?

The selection of acupuncture points depends on the location and nature of your pain. For example:

• Bladder 40 (located behind the knee) is a commonly used point for treating lower back pain.

• It's known as a He-Sea point, a powerful site where Qi gathers and sinks deep into the body. Stimulating this point can clear blockages and restore flow, easing back pain effectively.

In some styles of acupuncture, distal points like those on the hand or opposite side of the body are used to create systemic change. Each practitioner will have their own approach based on their unique presentation.

The Channel System: Rivers of Qi

Think of your channels like rivers flowing through the landscape of your body. When there's a rockslide or debris, the river gets stuck—this is like Qi or blood stagnation, and that’s often where pain shows up. Acupuncture helps clear these blockages, allowing the energy to flow smoothly again, which leads to pain relief.

Whether you’re seeking acupuncture in Edinburgh for a long-standing back issue or a recent injury, your practitioner will tailor the treatment to you, not just your symptoms.

Want to know more about how acupuncture can help your back pain? Feel free to get in touch, browse my other blogs to explore this holistic system of medicine further or book now.

Success stories from my clients with lower back pain:

Su (2021) https://apm.amegroups.org/article/view/66741/html