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।

Homeopathic Medicine for Pain Management

Homeopathic Medicine for Pain Management by Robert Chu, L.Ac., Certified Clinical Homeopath

Introduction

Homeopathic medicine is one of the overlooked treasures of self-help you can turn to when you're suffering from pain. Whether you're suffering from back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sprained ankle or sciatica, there is a homeopathic remedy for you. Often distributed in liquid tinctures or lactose sugar pellets, they are a safe and easy way to treat yourself with little to no side effects.

Theory

Homeopathy is the medical system discovered by a German allopathic physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, in the 1800's. Dissatisfied with the medicine of his time, he experimented with medicines that produced specific symptoms, and discovered a principle in medicine that 'Similia Similbus Curantur' which means "Like Cures Like". It means that a medicine can create similar symptoms in a healthy patient, and can cure those illness in a diseased person. Also unique in Hahnemann's work was that every cure was given in minute doses to lead the body into healing, rather than forcing the body to function unnaturally due to the strong effect of medicine. Homeopathy was used throughout Europe and with the early settlers and pioneers in the USA.
Homeopathy has now split into two major schools of thought, Classical and Clinical. Classical Homeopathy is the study of Hahnemann's early work in Europe and reflects a single remedy to fit the ailments of a person. Clinical Homeopathy is Hahnemann's later work with the combining of single remedies and using them synergistically to get a desired effect.

What you can do for your pain

Homeopathic medicines are generally distributed as pellets or liquids. If you use pellets, use as directed on a bottle. For liquid form, they use a dropper, and the dosage is in drops. Mostly homeopathic remedies are dissolved or taken under the tongue. Typical brand names in a health food store are Hyland's, Newton's, or Doliso's. These are commonly used and reliable. Newton's remedies are what I typically use, as their products reflect Hahnemann's later teaching of combining single remedies in combination, called complexes. This is referred to as "Clinical Homeopathy". "Classical Homeopathy" is the study of Hahnemann's early work in Europe and reflects a single remedy to fit the ailments of a person. If you're not sure what to choose, it is best to consult with a Certified Homeopath.

For people suffering from back pain, try using Arnica. Arnica is available as a topical cream, a lotion, and in pill or droplet form. Arnica is considered one of the best for first aid back pain relief. Bryonia is also considered a good remedy if you have a cough, or a cold along with back pain. Nux Vomica is also a good choice for backpain, especially at niught and that interferes with your sleeping. The Newton Aches and Pains Relief Complex is a good clinical homeopathic remedy for backache from all round strains, nerve injury, or strenuous workouts.

For those with shooting neck pain, Belladonna is the choice. Guaiacum is a great remedy for stiff neck due to cold. And for those with chronic neck pain due to spondylosis, Calc Carb is the best choice. Newton's Muscle Ease is a simple remedy for those who have muscle tension, due to stress and overexertion.

For those with tearing burning stiffness and shoulder pain, it is best to use Rhus Tox. With shoulder pain radiating to the whole arm with weakness, choose Chelkidonium. Of course, the Newton Aches and Pains Relief Complex is can be used for all round shoulder and neck pain.

For a sprained ankle with stiffness and swelling, use Rhus Tox. For weak anklwes susceptible to sprain, use Ledum. Weal ankle tendons and ligaments indivcate the use of Ruta. The Newton Aches and Pains Relief Complex, along with Arnica cream can work wonders.

For acute cases of sciatica, the remedy of choice is to use Colocynthis. Of course the forementioned Belladonna and Ruta also work well, along with any of the mentioned backache remedies. Newton's Sciatica Relief is great for the inflammation of the nerve in the lower back and leg.

Conclusion

By having a handful of these useful remedies, you can treat yourself at home, and have lasting results from acute injury, recovering from an injury, or deal with a chronic problem. In a pinch, the Arnica Cream is one to have at all times for any aches and pains.

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.