Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective on Musculoskeletal Pain & Management In North Ryde
/Do you struggle with persistent musculoskeletal pain?
I’ll share how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views musculoskeletal pain and how our treatments can help alleviate pain & discomfort, and support better movement.
In TCM, the channel system refers to pathways that circulate blood throughout the body, linking muscles, tendons, bones and organs. Named after the organs (Bladder channel, Liver channel, Spleen channel etc), these channels ensure the proper nourishment and function of the body’s musculoskeletal system.
Deficiency & Stagnation
When there is an obstruction or an insufficiency of Blood circulation, then pain, discomfort, stiffness, and restriction of movement can occur. There is a classical Chinese saying “Tong Zhi Bu Tong, Bu Tong Zhi Tong” meaning “When there is free flow, there is no pain, when there is no free flow, there is pain” this perfectly describes why musculoskeletal conditions occur.
The two diagnostic terms you may hear in clinic are ‘deficiency’ and ‘stagnation’, these two terms are used when there is an insufficiency or blockage of blood that leads to musculoskeletal issues. A patient may have one without the other, but it is more common to have both. A stagnation and/or deficiency can occur for a number of reasons, including injuries, heaving lifting, poor posture, sitting or standing for prolonged periods. Internal factors can also contribute to musculoskeletal issues.
The Root & the Branch
In Chinese Medicine, we differentiate between the Root and the Branch. The Root refers to the underlying cause of the symptoms, while the Branch is the presenting issue. Both can be treated either separately or simultaneously.
An example of a diagnosis for both the Root and the Branch in a patient presenting with shoulder pain might be ‘Blood Stagnation in the Large Intestine channel with Spleen Deficiency.’ The Large Intestine channel runs through the shoulder, and the Spleen is responsible for nourishing the blood. To make the most accurate diagnosis, further questions and observation of symptoms are required, which is why a thorough consultation is essential in TCM.
If the cause is not addressed, symptoms may reoccur. Unfortunately, musculoskeletal issues are rarely a quick fix, especially when many lifestyle factors, like work habits, cannot be changed. However, as a TCM practitioner, I am dedicated to providing you with effective treatments and lifestyle advice to help you feel better.
TCM Treatments
TCM can assist in managing muscle tension, supporting flexibility and joint mobility and relieving tired and weak muscles. At the clinic, we offer a variety of treatments to help manage musculoskeletal pain:
Tui Na: A quick massage integrated with other treatments, to help warm up the muscles, release stagnation and another way to identify problematic areas.
Acupuncture: inserting fine needles into specific points on the channels and Ah Shi points (specific points of tension) to release stagnation, tonify deficiency and release of natural pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins. Electroacupuncture is especially effective for sharp or stabbing pains, which could indicate nerve compression.
Cupping: Using heat to create a vacuum effect by placing cups on the skin, which breaks down stagnation and tonifies the body. This technique is commonly used by professional athletes. Cupping marks can also indicate a diagnosis—light marks often signify deficiency, while darker marks indicate stagnation, with darker areas showing more stagnation.
Gua Sha: Gently scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool, which works similarly to cupping. The red marks, called ‘Sha’, indicate the breakdown of stagnation.
Herbs: Herbal patches can be recommended to place directly onto the muscles or herbal pills prescribed to address the root cause of the musculoskeletal pain.
If you are tired of dealing with musculoskeletal issues, then come in and see our TCM practitioner today! Lets muscle through that pain together!
Martina Ilic
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