Pain Management
How Does Traditional Chinese Medicine Explain Pain?
The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine explains the different types of pain in the following way:
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Ma (麻) / Numbness: Signifying that Qi can pass through, but blood cannot.
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Mu (木) / Wood, no feeling: Severe numbness, resembling wood, where neither blood nor Qi can flow.
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Suan (é…¸) / Pain can be touched: Indicates that the meridians are open, but there is insufficient Qi and blood.
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Zhang (脹) / Bloating: Indicates sufficient Qi. Individuals with this constitution may experience bloating if Qi cannot be adequately released.
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Tong (ç—›) / Pain: Simple pain is often caused by blood stasis.
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Yang (ç—’) / Itching: Implies the arrival of Qi and blood; a wound may itch during healing. However, this is distinct from a general sensation of itchiness throughout the body.
Acupuncture for Pain Management
Our clinic incorporates the use of herbs, acupuncture, and comprehensive changes to diet and lifestyle to reduce and manage pain.
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In general, Chinese medicine believes that pain is the result of Qi (vital energy) stagnation or blood stagnation. We can relief specific pains, such as sciatica, frozen shoulders, tendonitis, cystitis, and arthritis.
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A small portion of muscle pain affecting the body is usually caused by excessive use, for example, arm pain from lifting boxes all day, or minor injuries, such as shoulder pain after a fall. However, when experiencing pain, it's more likely to be influenced by infections, diseases, or medications.
Blood Flow Issues & Pain Syndrome
If you experience pain in your arms, legs, or both, it could be due to a condition called claudication, where your muscles may not be receiving sufficient blood. Initially, you may only notice it during exercise, but over time, you might feel discomfort even when sitting or walking. Claudication is often caused by arteriosclerosis, a condition characterized by blockages in the blood vessels that supply blood to your muscles.
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In Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments, practitioner use various combinations of acupuncture, herbs, holistic diet, and lifestyle changes to reduce and control pain.
