Pain Management

Your practitioner may choose from one or more of the following techniques to add to your acupuncture therapy.  All of these procedures can help to alleviate pain – many of them are also useful for issues other than pain.

Tui-Na Massage (Chinese Medical Massage)

Tui Na (twee-nah) or Chinese medical massage is a therapeutic massage used for a myriad of health problems. It focuses on the same energy points and channels as those in acupuncture, but the hands and fingers take the place of needles. The words Tui Na translate into "push-grasp" or "poke-pinch" in Chinese. Physically, it is a series of pressing, tapping, and kneading with palms, fingertips, knuckles or implements that help the body to remove blockages along the meridians of the body and stimulates the flow of qi and blood to promote healing, similar to principles of acupuncture, moxibustion, and acupressure. Clinical practitioners often use liniment, plasters, herbal compresses and packs to aid in the healing process.

Chinese medical massage is effective for musculoskeletal pain, headaches, stress, fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia, weakened immune systems, digestive problems, women’s issues, and for stroke patients. In general, it is a helpful remedy for whole-body wellness.
 

Moxibustion

Moxibustion is a warming treatment that involves burning an herb (mugwort) above acupuncture points or over regions of the body, in order to increase circulation to an area. Moxa can be used either directly (on the skin or on the end of an acupuncture needle) or indirectly (a cigar-shaped format mixed with charcoal is held above the skin).

Moxibustion can be used to warm an injured area of the body or painful joints, or to eliminate dampness or cold in the body.  It is also used to tonify or treat chronic conditions, particularly in cases where the patient may be too weak for acupuncture.

Mugwort also has been found useful in certain gynecological indications, as it stimulates blood flow to the uterus and pelvic region.  Its warming properties make it suitable when cold affects normal functioning of the uterus, or to turn a breech baby before labor begins (by warming a point on the little toe).

Heat Therapy

Moxibustion is only one type of heat therapy – alternatively, your practitioner may use an infrared lamp or hot packs placed on the body to relax spasming muscles and alleviate musculoskeletal pain.  Heat therapy may be useful in cases of injury (once the initial swelling subsides), painful joints, low back pain, menstrual cramps, or in cases where cold is believed to be the cause of imbalance.  Heat therapy increases blood flow into and out of an injured area, bringing in building blocks for tissue repair and enabling the body to heal itself.
 

Cupping

Cupping is a method of treating pain by dispelling stagnation (blood stagnation is a common cause of pain).  The cupping procedure involves creating a partial vacuum over the skin – this results in drawing blood out of injured or stagnant tissue, towards the surface of the skin. This vacuum is created either by heating the inside of a bell-shaped glass cup with a flame (fire cupping), then placing it on the skin to form an air-tight seal, or in some cases, the vacuum is created by a mechanical hand-pump. As the air inside the cup cools, it contracts forming a partial vacuum, enabling the cup to draw the skin slightly upward, pulling in soft tissue, and drawing blood to that area.

In practice, cups are normally used only on softer tissue that can form a good seal with the edge of the cup. They may be used by themselves or placed over an acupuncture needle. Skin may be lubricated, allowing the cup to be pulled slowly across the skin.

Depending on the specific treatment, skin marking is common after the cups are removed. This may be a simple red ring that disappears quickly, but more aggressive treatments can result in the appearance of bruising (without the soreness). In general, the longer a cup is left on, the more of a circular mark is created. Treatments should not be painful, but if you feel discomfort, let your practitioner know.

Cupping is commonly applied to the back, neck, and shoulder for musculoskeletal pain, or for respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis, where stagnation interferes with proper flow of Qi in the chest and upper back.
 

Liniments, Plasters   

Liniments are soothing medicinal liquids that are rubbed into the skin to relieve muscular stiffness, injury and pain.  Many liniments were originally developed to facilitate healing of martial arts injuries - they are useful for the relief of muscular aches following hard exercise or exposure to wet and cold. In association with other measures prescribed by a physician, they may also be helpful for the relief of joint disorders and neuralgias. A liniment, rubbed on the skin or used for massage, should produce no more than a mild redness of the skin.  Most Chinese liniments are solutions or mixtures of Chinese herbs in an oily or alcoholic vehicle. These vehicles are chosen because they facilitate rubbing. As a matter of fact the rubbing or massage is a very important aspect in reducing pain - kneading and rubbing a painful muscle or group of muscles causes an increased blood flow to the affected part, resulting in more rapid healing of the injury.

Plasters are made from a Chinese herbal mixture that has been adhered to gauze or other material – the plaster can then be left in place either for a few hours or overnight, while the herbs penetrate into the skin to relieve pain and alleviate swelling.
 

Recommended Stretches and Exercise

Depending on the nature of your injury, your practitioner may recommend either stretches or other exercises when you have healed enough to safely work the injured area.  Proper stretching and moving accelerates the healing process – inactivity can result in limited flexibility, reduced range of motion, and inability to regain strength.
 

“Therapeutic touch is a contemporary interpretation of several ancient healing practices in which the practitioners consciously direct or sensitively modulate human energies.” Dolores Krieger, Prof. Emeritus, NYU