3 Simple Exercises for Back Pain

Perhaps you’ve had a hard day, you had to shovel the walk, dig your car out of the snow, mailed a few packages, and had to take your in-laws around town. You’re tired, and you feel your back is about to go out.

Or its been a cold day, or rainy and damp outside, and you got soaked – you’re tired and out of it and you feel you back is just about to give out.

Or you’re carrying a few extra pounds from all the holiday feasting, and putting strain on your back muscles, joints and ligaments।

What you need to do is immediately do a few exercises that will help loosen you up and restore your posture. You can do these before you’ve run to your pain relievers or muscles relaxants. You don’t even need a personal trainer or gym membership or visit to the doctor. A few relaxed sets of these exercises can immediately make you feel better.

These golden exercises include deep knee bends, waist twists and hip rolls।

Do these three treasures is a great way to get the blood moving, release endorphins, and help you detox.Since they deal with moving the major muscle groups and the core, you can do them anytime with varying degrees of difficulty to adjust as you get more accustomed to the exercises.
These exercises promote blood circulation and release muscle tightness and spasms। Done regularly, they will increase your health and fitness and help you tone your body। You will feel warmer and they will even help you in digestion, as the exercises help the moving action of the intestines, and help you move your bowels to further aid you in detoxing. Exercise one: Do some gentle, relaxed knee bends, but do them assisted with a chair or table or desk. Stand up in a relaxed shoulder width position and place your hands on the support. Tighten your stomach muscles and exhale, while going down as far as you can without falling, straining or straining your knees. Then inhale and stand up again. Do 10 of these, and then move onto the next exercise.

Exercise two: Stand back away from your support and stand in a shoulder width starting position. Stand up straight, tighten your ab muscles and put your hands on your hips. Imagine you have a hula hoop, or are doing the hula, and go clockwise 5 times, then go the other way 5 times. Relax and smile, and breathe naturally with the exercise.
Exercise three: With your hands relaxed at your sides, and standing about shoulder width, you simply start swinging your arms right then left and pat both hands on your lower back, preferably over the kidneys. Don’t swing or pat too hard, just a relaxed easy motion! Just breathe naturally and relax! This is an exercise Master Miyagi taught Daniel in Karate Kid 2 – swinging your arms back and forth like a toy drum. Simply do a count of 10, and then relax.
The complete series of these golden exercises takes about 2 minutes to complete. Initially, try to do the exercises 3 times a day. When you get better, you can try them once for every hour that you’re awake, which would be about 10 to 14 sets a day. Take an exercise break, rather than a coffee or cigarette break and you’ll be delighted on how good your low back feels.

Pasadena, CA Acupuncturist Robert Chu will help patients with pain issues, infertility, Cancer treatment related side effects, and cardiovascular problems, please call (626) 345-0441 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation।

Acupuncture and Low Back Pain

Acupuncture and Low Back Pain by Robert Chu, PhD, L.Ac., QME

Introduction

Acupuncture is one of the treasures of complementary medicine if you're suffering from low back pain. Whether you're suffering from acute or chronic problems there is a treatment for you. Often, treatment involves treating the Kidney energy system, which may or may not have anything to do with you actual physical kidneys.

Theory

Perhaps you're suffering from muscle pain or pinched nerve, or you've overworked, are fatigued and strained your back. Or you were exposed to cold, damp conditions the winter brings and your back hurts. These can all be treated with Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.

In Chinese Medicine diagnosis, if you have back pain, you could also have what is called Kidney Yang Deficiency, which is not uncommon.

Signs and symptoms of Kidney Yang Deficiency in addition to the low back pain also include dark circles under the eyes, diarrhea at the early morning hours, cold hands and feet, low energy, a pale complexion, difficulty hearing, a general feeling of cold, a low libido, and frequent urination.

One gets Kidney Yang deficiency through too much sex, overwork, fatigue, poor diet, lack of exercise, too much stress, unhealthy emotions, dressing poorly in cold weather, and ignoring a proper lifestyle of good diet, exercise and rest. Frequent masturbation or too many sexual partners is common and weakens the kidney energy with each orgasm. When one furthers that with abuse of the body through drugs, alcohol or partying too late in an attempt to release stress or escape problems, too often, Kidney energy problems arise.

Treatment

Your Kidney energy gets deficient and needs to be harmonized through treatment of acupuncture and herbal therapy.

Acupuncture is done locally on the back, but the best acupuncturists don't needle the affected area. Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system and sends a signal to the brain, which is responsible for homeostasis. A good acupuncture treatment can have an almost instantaneous effect in some acute cases. In chronic conditions that may have taken years to develop, treatment may take longer. It is best to consult with a Licensed Acupuncturist in your area.

Herbs that are given are usually in the form of capsules or BB sized teapills, which are administered for your specific condition, although some Chinese medicine practitioners still prescribe raw herbs or powders. I find that if pills and capsules are used, there is no need to be inconvenienced by the taste, smell and time preparing raw herbs.

Although herbs are natural substances, they can be dangerous if wrongly or self prescribed. Again, it is wise to consult a licensed professional, especially if you are already taking other medications.

Herbs are combined with other herbs of similar function to reduce the danger of toxicity and increase synergistic effect. Herbals are also available as lotions, liniments, herbal wraps, patches and pastes that may be used externally, depending on your condition.

Other Physical Medicine

Practitioners may also use moxibustion, a form of heat therapy near the acupuncture points, to stimulate healing, depending upon the ailment. Other techniques include cupping, massage and manipulation therapy, to align the skeleton.

Conclusion

By consulting with a Licensed Acupuncturist, you can be on your way to lasting results from acute injury, recovering from an injury, or dealing with a chronic problem. A good Licensed Acupuncturist will often also prescribe the proper herbs you need, along with diet, exercise and lifestyle changes that you would benefit from.

Clinic hours are available, please call (626)345-0441 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation.

Clinic Address and Contact Info

Clinic Address and Contact Info

Robert Chu, PhD, L.Ac., QME
2502 East Washington Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91104 U.S.A.
Clinic: (626) 345-0441
Fax: (626) 345-0442
Cell/VM: (626) 487-1815

Please call for an appointment. Closed for lunch from 12 noon - 2:00 p.m.

Specializing in Infertility, Cancer Treatment Side effects, cardiovascular/diabetes, pain management. Offering Acupuncture, Herbal Therapy, Acupressure, Tui Na, Nutrition, Counseling, Hypnotherapy, Life Coaching.

Robert Chu, PhD, L.Ac., QME
chusauli@gmail.com
www.chusaulei.com

TCM for Lupus Sufferers

TCM for Lupus Sufferers

Lupus is a disease in which modern medicine has no cure, but suggests they have successful treatments. I see that people suffer greatly from Lupus. In particular, this article will deal with SLE or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Lupus sufferers may suffer from a red, butterfly shaped rash over the nose and cheeks, joint pain, fever, chest pain, swollen glands, tiredness, hair loss, sensitivity to light low blood count, and depression, and even to damage to the internal organs such as the liver and kidney. Patients can have Lupus “flares” or an aggravation of symptoms that may be triggered by sunlight, stress, medications, infection, and hormonal changes.

Chinese medicine, since it is older than modern medicine, views Lupus in a poetic manner. The paradigm of Chinese medicine views Lupus as a form of Liver or Kidney Yin Deficiency and/or Kidney Yang Deficiency syndrome, or Heat toxins in the blood. Due to the deficiency, heat is built up in the body, causing rashes, fever, chancre sores, and fatigue. Since younger women lose blood monthly, and blood is considered a yin substance, it affects young females more severely. The sensitivity to light is because the Liver Yin deficiency affects the eyes, and the hair loss is also considered due to the Liver Yin deficiency failing to nourish the blood. Rashes can also occur due to the fact that toxins in the blood cause heat in the body and the body wishes to expel them. Lastly the joint pain is due to the fact that Yin in the body does not lubricate the joints and causes pain. Every one’s Lupus presents in a different way. Often these signs and symptoms are treated by a team of doctors, owing to the departmentalization of modern medicine. A person may see a primary treating physician, a rheumatologist, nephrologist, hematologist, dermatologist, neurologist, depending on what symptoms are presented. The departmentalization may cause a breakdown and “turf wars”, as well as problems when administering medications.

Although Chinese Medicine is often not considered or recommended for Lupus sufferers by modern medicine practitioners, many patients in China and abroad receive great relief through Chinese medicine. Many of the modern medications used in treating Lupus have adverse side effects. NSAID’s, taken for pain relief, can cause Stomach irritation and ulcers. COX-2 Inhibitors like Vioxx, can lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, even with their new and improved warning label. Steriods like Prednisone can cause weight gain, a moon face, bruising, heartburn, depression, mood swings, diabetes, joint damage, osteoporosis, and other side effects.

When doctors prescribe calcium supplements when you take steroids long term, they must be kidding. All the calcium supplements in the world will not stop osteoporosis unless there is a line of force through the skeleton to stimulate bone growth.

Anti-malarial drugs like Plaquenil can cause stomach pain, birth defects, blurring of vision, muscle weakness, and damage the retina of the eye. Immunosuppressive drugs like Cytoxin, Rheumatrex, and Imuran cause low whitye and blood cell counts causing an induced weakness of the immunity system, that allows for other host diseases like fungi, shingles, and serious infections, as well as other opportunistic infections. Cancer and Liver damage can also result from taking immunosuppressant drugs.

Chinese herbal medications and acupuncture are excellent in reducing medications and preventing flares and many of the natural herbals are gentler and have less side effects than the modern medications used. There are also numerous substitutes for the medications listed above.

Qigong and yoga practices can aid in stress reduction and help cool the body when proper exercises are chosen. Better diet can cause less flare ups, and in the Chinese medicine diagnosis, Lupus is considered a form of “Yin deficiency heat”, so that foods to produce the Yin fluids of the body are emphasized.

Acupuncture can reduce pain and inflammation, as well as reduce stress, without having to resort to additional drugs. Of course, proper eating, sleeping, healthy emotions, reducing stress, and exercise all play an important part in chronic disease like Lupus. I would strongly suggest all Lupus patients to find a good acupuncturist, herbalist and dietician/nutritionist to give them better quality of life.

Pasadena Acupuncturist Robert Chu will help patients with infertility, Cancer treatment related side effects, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, thyroid issues, and pain. Clinic hours are available, please call (626)345-0441 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation.

Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy for Cancer Patients
by Robert CHu, L.Ac., QME, PhD

Why Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy for Cancer patients?

Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy can help those suffering with cancer to prolong life, enhance quality of life, and aid in recovery. In China, Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy are used as primary treatments for the treatment of cancer, in this country there are legal ramifications with this approach, so most western cancer patients often choose to combine their biomedical treatment with alternative therapies. They are not quite sure where to turn to and may try any treatment alleged to treat cancer, or even self medicate with herbs and other substances. Often chemotherapy, surgery and radiation cause damage to healthy tissues, as well as diseased tissues, and weakens the immune system. This is where Chinese medicine can be very helpful. Chinese herbal medicine is the therapy of choice in treating the side-effects experienced by oncological treatments, and is proven in its effectiveness.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, cancer is caused by the stagnation of energy and blood in the body due to strong emotions, poor exercise, poor diet, inadequate rest and hereditary factors which are triggered from poor health. Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy eradicates disease through the balancing and moving stagnant energy and blood.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

According to the principles of TCM, energy flows through the body via 12 primary meridians and 8 extra channels. To strengthen the flow of energy , or remove blockages in the meridians, acupuncturists insert a few disposable tiny, sterile, flexible needles just under the skin at certain specific points (called acupoints) along these channels. These acupoints are associated with specific body function, and when stimulated, they trigger the immunity system to provide almost instantaneous pain relief and cessation of symptoms ailing the patient. For example, if you are suffering from nausea and vomiting from radiation or chemotherapy, a few carefully selected points might be stimulated on your ear, scalp, hands, feet, wrist or ankle. TCM practitioners believe that acupuncture stimulates the body's internal regulatory system to nurture a natural healing response without having to directly treat the site of injury.

Acupuncture stimulates the body's internal regulatory system to nurture a natural healing response. Centuries of empirical observation indicate that acupuncture leads to real changes in the body. The insertion of acupuncture needles has an effect on the autonomic nervous system and homeostatis.

Recently, numerous studies have shown that acupuncture stimulates nerves, send a signal up the spinal cord to the brain, leading to the release of endorphins and monoamines, which are natural chemicals in the body that block pain signals. This may be one explanation why acupuncture is so good at stopping pain, but does not fully explain the healing response one has with other disorders. More research is needed to fully explain the acupuncture mechanism.

What To Expect

When first visiting a practitioner, there will be a thorough medical history inquiry, the pulse is taken on both wrists, the tongue is examined, and the body may be palpated to check the site of disease or pain. A treatment plan will be discussed.

Depending on your ailment, you may also have your first acupuncture treatment and Herbal Therapy prescription at that first visit. In general, visits occur initially two or three times a week until therapeutic results and stabilization have occurred. After that, follow up visits will be scheduled as needed. Therapeutic exercise and meditation may also be prescribed to aid in overall well being.

Does it hurt?

Acupuncture needles do not hurt like hypodermic needles used to give injections or draw blood. The needles are hair-thin, and may feel like a tiny prick or pinch upon insertion. Sterile disposable needles are always used. Once the needles are inserted, the practitioner may manipulate them manually or send a weak electrical current through them to increase the energy flow. The needles are typically retained for 20 - 45 minutes, depending on the ailment. Different people experience sensations of a "tingling", "distended", "electrical" or "full" feeling, whereas others may feel numbness or nothing at all. Most find the sessions relaxing, and fall asleep during the treatment, waking up refreshed and feeling great.

Herbal Therapy in a nutshell

In our society, herbs have now come into vogue, but there are dangers. Although herbs are natural substances, they can be dangerous if wrongly or self prescribed. Herbs are combined with other herbs of similar function to reduce the danger of toxicity and increase synergistic effect. In our clinic, we use the finest Herbal Therapy formulas in pill and powder form for convenience. There is no need to be inconvenienced by the taste, smell and time preparing raw herbs. There are also herbal lotions, liniments, herbal wraps, patches and pastes that may be used externally, depending on your condition.

Other Physical Medicine

Practitioners may also use moxibustion, a form of heat therapy on acupoints, to stimulate healing, depending upon the ailment. Other techniques include cupping, Gua Sha (scraping), massage and manipulation therapy, often complimented with dietary advice.

How soon can I expect results?

Some patients notice rapid improvement after just a few sessions. In acute pain cases, one or two treatments may lead to dramatic results. In chronic conditions that may have taken years to develop, treatment may take longer.

Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy effectively treats:

Anxiety Auto-Immune Disorders Back Pain and Sciatica Chemo and Radiation therapy Side Effects Constipation Diarrhea Dizziness Ear Pain and Ringing Eczema and other Skin Problems Edema Headaches Infections Insomnia Migraines Nausea and Vomiting Numbness and Neuropathy PAIN of all types Stress Weight loss

Does my Insurance Cover treatments?

Currently many insurance carriers cover treatments. If your insurance company has acupuncture benefits, you may qualify for treatment.

In summary:

Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy can help prevent cancer by strengthening the immunity system, insuring adequate rest, balancing strong emotions, promoting proper diet, and avoiding hereditary triggers that can lead to developing tumors. During oncological treatments of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy can be a safe adjunct for an already taxed immunity system.

We can boost immunity, help dissolve nodules, reduce anxiety, stop headaches, treat nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lack of energy, prevent peripheral neuropathy, treat chemo induced menopause, and restore hair loss to maintain quality of life and give you time with your loved ones and put your business in order. After you've gone through treatments of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, we can restore you to good health and help you recover from whatever symptom is ailing you.

In summary, Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy can help you before during and after treatment of cancer.

About Robert Chu, L.Ac., QME, MSOM, PhD: Robert Chu (Chu Sau Lei) began stuying the martial and Chinese healing arts since childhood. Robert is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist, specializing in the Master Tung Acupuncture and Optimal Acupuncture methods in which he effectively treats pain, industrial injuries, sports injuries, and neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Dr. Chu also treats a wide variety of internal diseases including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, psoriasis, thyroid disorders, gynecological disorders and side-effects from cancer treatments.

He is appointed by the Industrial Medical Council as a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME). Dr. Chu was formerly affiliated with the St. Vincent Medical Center , as the first fulltime Acupuncturist on staff and treated cancer patients with Acupuncture, Herbal Therapy, Qigong and Tai Chi. Dr. Chu is a former faculty member of Samra University of Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles, where he taught acupuncture.

He has also taught Tai Chi and Qigong at Loyola Law School . Dr. Chu also volunteers at Pasadena's Wellness Community , where he does monthly lectures for cancer patients and a weekly lifestyle/nutrition and Qi Gong class. He is occasionally featured as a speaker for the American Cancer Society .

In July of 2004, Dr. Chu was selected as the Acupuncturist to Olympic athletes at the Olympic Trials held in Sacramento, CA. Dr. Chu also lectures nationally and internationally on Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to provide continuing education to MD's and Acupuncturists. In 2003, he founded the International Association of Optimal Acupuncture and Clinical Chinese Medicine to spread his effective clinical system. He also serves as President of the ITARA - International Tung's Acupuncture Research Association, which he founded in 2005, to preserve, standardize, educate, and research new applications of the Tung family system of Acupuncture with integrity, open sharing, and a goal to help end suffering in fellow beings.

He has been decorated as an honorary member of the Finnish Traditional Chinese Medicine Society of Acupuncture and Herbs and a therapist member of the National Register of Acupuncture Therapists in Finland. Dr. Chu is also listed as a Master Practitioner of Oriental Bodywork Therapy and Master Practitioner of Tui-Na Manipulations, awarded by the International Association of Tui-Na Therapies in London, England. He has lectured at Emperor's College of TCM , CSOMA , and other functions as a dynamic and entertaining speaker.

In 2004, Robert was awarded a Ph.D. in Buddhist Ayurveda from the non-profit college Ayurveda Healing Arts Institute in Berkeley, California. Currently, 40 - 60% of Dr. Chu's practice is devoted to treating breast and prostate cancer patients.

He may be contacted at: Robert Chu, L.Ac., QME, MSOM, PhD2502 E. Washington Blvd Pasadena, CA 91104
(626) 345-0441 Cell/Voice Mail: (626) 487-1815

The Acupuncture of Master Tung

The Acupuncture of Master Tung by Robert Chu, L.Ac.

I am a practitioner of Master Tung’s Acupuncture, which differs greatly from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture that is typically taught in schools here in the USA and in China. Many people might wonder who Master Tung was, and my information here will introduce him to readers here. Master Tung Ching-chang was probably the greatest Acupuncturist in the last generation in Taiwan. So great was his fame, that he literally had over 100 patients per day which he saw in his small clinic. His fame was due to his extreme efficacy with acupuncture needles, and he only used a few per treatment.

Master Tung arrived in Taiwan after the Communists took over in China in 1949 along with Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist party and began a successful practice in Taipei, Taiwan. He was an Acupuncturist in Taiwan for 26 years, and throughout that time, he allegedly treated over 400,000 patients, with about a fourth of them treated at no charge. For these humanitarian deeds, Master Tung was decorated with an award of “Representative of Fine People and Fine Deeds” in Taiwan. As the personal acupuncturist to Taiwan President Chang Kai Shek, his reputation was so great that he was asked to visit Cambodia between 1971 and 1974 to treat Cambodian President Long Nuo, who suffered from hemiplegia due to a stroke.

Master Tung was also decorated by President Chang Kai Shek with a “Certificate of Honor” in the field of Chinese Medicine, which is an amazing accomplishment because initially the Nationalist Party was not responsive to Chinese Medicine, due to the fact that Sun Yat Sen was a Western trained physician.

Master Tung’s Acupuncture is truly a living treasure and storehouse of Chinese Medicine, untouched by modern TCM, and a glimpse into the family systems of Chinese Medicine as taught in previous generations. It is itself a conglomerate of classical acupuncture and pricking methods, flexibly applied, and proven clinically with practical, often with quick and dramatic results. Currently many practitioners of acupuncture may use a lot of needles and needle around the local area. Not so with Master Tung’s Acupuncture. For example, if a person has neck pain, a TCM trained acupuncturist would typically needle the neck area. But a Master Tung acupuncturist will apply a few needles to either the wrist, ankle, knee, shoulder, hip, or thigh to treat the pain. The advantage is very clear, as you can give feedback immediately to your acupuncturist upon insertion. When needles are in the neck, one has to wait until they are removed to give feedback! For the acupuncturist, the flexibility of the method is extremely attractive.

Done properly, Master Tung’s acupuncture is painless, quick, efficient and requires only a few treatments if problems are acute. A full range of problems are treated, including allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain and sciatica, Bell’s Palsy, bronchitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, high blood pressure, colitis, common cold and flu, constipation, diarrhea, ear pain and ringing, eczema and other skin problems, edema, frozen shoulder, GERD, headaches, IBS, impotence, insomnia, laryngitis, menstrual problems, menopause, nausea and vomiting, numbness and neuropathy, pain of all types, PMS, prostate problems, rheumatism, stress, stroke, tennis elbow, TMJ, and Trigeminal Neuralgia with just a few needles. It is almost inconceivable as to the efficacy of this form of acupuncture. In my own daily practice, I am still amazed at the immediate results I see with this system of acupuncture.

Master Tung’s Acupuncture in the USA is practiced by Young Wei-chieh of Rowland Heights, CA, Esther Su of San Jose, CA, Jim Maher of Oklahoma City, OK, and myself. I had the fortune of learning from Young Wei-chieh and Esther Su, and did extensive research in this system of acupuncture and practice it daily in Pasadena, CA.

Currently, I am sharing with this great system with acupuncturists and Medical Doctors nationally and internationally through my organization called ITARA - International Tung’s Acupuncture Research Association. We seek to preserve, educate, research and pass on the legacy of Master Tung’s work through seminars, private trainings, and other mediums. As students and practitioners of Master Tung’s Acupuncture, our practice is to benefit others in a practical, simple, direct, economical manner and it is hoped that the reader can use seek out a Master Tung Acupuncture practitioner to experience these amazing points - the same points I use daily in my clinic with amazing results!

Pasadena Acupuncturist Robert Chu will help patients with infertility, Cancer treatment related side effects, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, thyroid issues, and pain. Clinic hours are available, please call (626)345-0441 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation.