Top 5 Back Pain Acu-Points
go-to points for lower back pain
Lower back pain is probably one of the most commonly seen things acupuncturists see everyday. It can be quite straight foward and easy to fix and sometimes you get that one patient and you just say “ I have no idea what to do with you.” (we’ve all been there one time or another.) Through years of trail and error, (and even more error) here’s a list of my fav lbp points. Most of them are from seminars and books on Master Tung points and the Tan systems and other great teachers I’ve met along the way:
- 22.04 Ling Gu & Da Bai 22.05
Da Bai
Location: Lock fingers in a grip to locate the point in the depression 0.5 cun proximal to the junction between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones. (Young, 2008.)
Ling gu
Location: between the index and thumb, the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones, 1.2 cun from Da Bai. (Young, 2008.)
This combo definitely has great effects for sciatica, lower back, and variety of different diseases. Because these points are located on the Yang ming channel (yang ming is abundant in qi and blood,) they are able get quite immediate effective result for many patients. Needle opposite side.
2) Si3
Located on the ulnar border of the hand, in the substantial depres- sion proximal to the head of the fifth metacarpal bone (Deadman, 2007.)
It is a great point for neck and lower back pain because bladder channel (tai yang treats tai yang) and also is the shu-stream point of the Small intestine channel. As the confluent point of the Du channel it can treat spine. Shu-stream points on yang channels pertain to wood, which treat tendons and sinews as well. (Young, 2008.) Needle opposite side.
3) Lu5 -Lu6
Learned this one from Dr. Tan a few years ago. Hand tai yin balances foot tai yang. Lung channel is a great place to start with for lower back pain on the bladder channel. I like it because its also go some great surface area to work with and less painful for the patient. Plus needling muscle treats muscle. Needle either side.
4) 77.28 (Guang Ming) / Kd7 (Fu Liu)
Kd 7 in TCM and 77.28 (Fu Liu) in the Master Tung system. Doesnt really matter what you like to call it. All roads lead to Rome. As long as you get the results its all good. 1 cun posterior and 2 cun superior to medial malleolus. Kidney and Bladder interior/exterior relationship. lower leg as an image of the lower back. needle either side.
5) 1010.25 Zhou Shui
Two point unit: First point is center of occiptal protruberance and the second is .08 cun above the former. (Young, 2006.) Thread through scalp to hit both points. Great for pain directly on spine L5/S1 joint. Bone treats bone all day.
6) Yao Tong Xue
Threw in this extra last one because it came into mind: Yao Tong Xue on the forehead. This one is a random point I learned from one of my teachers in China. He named it after himself but I’m sure he ripped it off a book somewhere. It’s the area about 1.5–2 cun above yin tang using the forehead as an image of the lower back.
Well thats it folks! Whats your fav go-to points for lbp? Please leave in comments!
References:
Deadman, Peter, Mazin Al-Khafaji, and Kevin Baker. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove, East Sussex, England: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications, 2007. Print.
Young, Wei-Chieh, and Jingchang Dong. The Five Transport Points. Rowland Heights, CA: American Chinese Medical Culture Center, 2008. Print.
Young, Wei-Chieh, and Jingchang Dong. Lectures on Tung’s Acupuncture: Points Study. Rowland Heights, CA: American Chinese Medical Culture Center, 2008. Print.
Bob Wong is comes from a family background of Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture. When not practicing and teaching, he is usually taking photos of things and making videos.
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