Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical attention. It is one of the most frequent causes of missed workdays and one of the most expensive conditions in the United States; according to a recent government report nearly one million people in the U.S. took time away from work to treat and recover from some sort of back pain.

Back problems can be caused by an inordinately wide range of problems. It can exist alone, or it can be caused by a condition that occurs elsewhere in the body, with the pain being transmitted (referred) to areas of the back by the nervous system. The majority of backache sufferers complain of pain in the lower back; the second most common site of discomfort is the base of the neck.

Who Suffers From Back Pain?

Half of all adults will experience some form of low back pain during their lifetime. The fact that humans walk upright puts great pressure on the spine and the muscles that support it. Over time, factors such as disease, accidents, poor posture and overexertion can lead to immediate and/or long-term back problems.

Most back pain is muscular in nature. Muscle pain perpetuates what is known as the pain cycle, a phenomenon of which the back is particularly susceptible. In the pain cycle, pain causes a muscle to spasm, which may distort the discs, joints and nerves of the spine. This spasm leads to further pain, leading to further spasm, which compounds the original problem. If the nerves are irritated enough, it may cause pain to radiate down into the leg, similar to pain experienced via a herniated disc.

In most cases, people who experience an episode of acute back pain will recover in 3-12 weeks. For those who don’t recover, however, chronic back pain can be a significant source of inconvenience and suffering.

What Can Acupuncture Do For You?

Acupuncture plays a vital role in the reduction or elimination of back pain by reducing recovery time and preventing a chronic condition from developing.

Research has shown that acupuncture causes the body to produce natural steroids and promote the production of natural endorphins. Steroids decrease inflammation, while endorphins are produced by the body to kill pain. Both substances can play an integral part in the breaking up of the pain cycle.

By reducing acute back pain, acupuncture can also reduce the chances of chronic back pain from occurring. It can help avoid the need for costlier and more invasive surgical procedures. And if back pain can be significantly reduced with acupuncture, it also lowers the need for painkillers or other medications that can either cause unwanted side-effects or prolong a patient’s condition. To schedule your appointment for a pain free back call our Minneapolis Acupuncture Clinic at 612-866-4000 TODAY or visit http://www.orientalmedcare.com/ .

Did you know that not all acupuncturists are not the same? Yes, it’s true.  Selecting the right acupuncturist to treat your health problems is an important decision that can either make your acupuncture a success or turn it into a disaster. The sad fact is that there are people who go out and take a few weekend courses on acupuncture, buy some needles and themselves “acupuncturists.” This is like someone buying a stethoscope and calling himself a doctor! In the state of Minnesota it is sadly legal for chiropractors to take only 100 hours of training in acupuncture. (They are not allowed to used the term “acupuncturist”) Would you get brain surgery from someone who had just a weekend of training?

Many people ask, “How do I select an acupuncturist?” “Aren’t they all the same?” The fact is that each acupuncturist is unique and, like in any other profession, there are acupuncturists who are great, some who are good, some mediocre and some who should never be allowed to work! 

First, your might want to call a L.Ac. (“licensed As an acupuncturist”) who is a full-time acupuncturist and has had years of experience. Why? The answer is simple: You can relax and rest assured that your acupuncturist had the superior training and experience (instead of a recent graduate) to do what it takes. You want to make sure your acupuncture is done right. That it solves your health problem instead of creating another one.

Then there is the issue of patients going to so-called ‘medical acupuncturists’ instead of selecting treatment by fully licensed acupuncture practitioners. The 4 year L.Ac (Licensed Acupuncturist) qualification requires over 3,000 hours of intense study and research. The ‘medical’ acupuncturists are ‘certified’ after only 220 hours of study, some of which is home study without the benefit of the tutoring of experienced acupuncturists. Indeed, in some US states, medical acupuncturists require as little as 100 hours of training before practicing acupuncture.

Zhu Dan Xi, a spokesperson for MedicalAcupunctureFacts.com said the value of the L.Ac qualification should not be underestimated, and patients should be aware of the potential dangers of receiving treatment from an unlicensed practitioner.

“We hear horror stories on a daily basis from patients undergoing treatment from medical acupuncturists, which just further underpins our belief that 100-200 hours of training simply isn’t enough. In the same way you wouldn’t trust a so-called doctor with 100 hours training, we believe you shouldn’t trust so-called medical acupuncturists either. These practices create a negative perception of acupuncture, and destroy the confidence of patients in what is truly a remarkable healing practice.”

“As a result of the lack of training of ‘medical’ acupuncturists, we’ve seen a rise in recent years in the levels of bad feeling towards acupuncture, with frequent claims of painful and uncomfortable treatments which have little healing effect. As any L.Ac licensed practitioner will testify, this couldn’t be further from the truth with well-executed acupuncture treatments, which can have a dramatic impact on health and wellbeing.”

Make sure your acupuncturist has experience treating your specific problem. You wouldn’t go to a fertility expert to treat your chronic pain. Go to www.orientalmedcare.com to review the many health problems we treat at our Minneapolis clinic.

After a tense day at the office you may not feel particularly motivated to exercise. But researchers are discovering that exercise is one of the most powerful stress and anxiety busters. “Any exercise that gets your heart rate up helps lower levels of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol,” quoted from Dr. Mark Liponis, corporate medical director of Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass. Long term stress results in your body releasing greater amounts of these hormones which can lead to insomnia, headaches, depression, digestive issues, and other health problems. Exercise promotes the release of natural pain killing endorphins and boosts your mood.

When you think of exercise you might think of lifting weights or running. However Chinese exercise is different. It builds up your vital life energy naturally. The gentle yet effective moves of Qi Gong help you to identify the tell tale signs that you are stressed…like back and neck tension…and allows you to chill out before you become physically and emotionally exhausted.

Qi Gong exercises link your body and mind using mindful movements to release blocked “Qi” or energy. That blocked energy is your stress.

Ready to say bye-bye to your stress? Then join us Saturday September 27, 2008 for the Fall Qi Gong & Tai Chi Workshop.  Discover Medical Yin/Yang Qi Gong exercises and breathing movements that relieve stress and boost your energy. These exercises are practiced to maintain health, promote longevity, quiet the mind, and prevent or treat illness. You also will learn:

Tai Chi for Neck and Back Pain…exercises to strengthen your body and prevent neck and back pain. These exercises are gentle and require no extra equipment. Enhance your balance, posture and cardiovascular functions. Tai Chi is gentle and easy enough to do in business clothes at the office. Recent studies show that it can provide as much cardiovascular benefit as moderate impact aerobics. You can learn to prevent pain before it happens.

If you are not fully satisfied with our workshop in the first hour we will give you a full refund!

When: Saturday; September 27, 2008; 10am-5:30pm

Where to go: Days Inn University, 2407 University Ave S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55414.

Cost: Only $165 PLUS receive a free T-Shirt (with beautiful Chinese calligraphy, a $24 value) and FREE lunch ($15 value).  Seniors (65 and older) receive a 10% discount.

To Register: Purchase on line now at http://www.orientalmedcare.com/qigong.html . For more information, call 612-866-4000. DVD’s and CD’s will be available for purchase at the workshop. Please wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing.

Presented by Health Preservation Association.

About the Instructor: For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, a certified Health Preservation Association instructor, herbalist and Oriental bodywork therapist. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

At the University of York in England, Hugh MacPherson and scientists said the benefits of a short course of acupuncture was effective in treating patients with low back pain and that the benefits seem to improve with time. This was evident in their study of 241 back pain sufferers. 

“If you offer acupuncture to someone with back pain on average it is expected you are likely to benefit, not just in the short term but particularly in the longer-term of 12 and especially 24 months,” he said in an interview.”

“That’s a remarkable finding in that normally you would expect the benefit of the treatment to wear off,” MacPherson added. Low back pain is one of the most common medical complaints. It affects ten of millions of people and is a leading cause of sick days.”

In a separate study in which they looked at the cost of acupuncture, the researchers found that the additional money spent on the acupuncture treatment was cost effective.

To find out more about effective treatment of back pain visit http://www.orientalmedcare.com .

You might remember when you were younger and much suppler. As we age the necessity for stretching increases. Chinese medicine teaches us that as we age we start to lose our yin and yang energies. Yin corresponds to blood and body fluids. Without proper moisture and lubrication our muscles become drier, therefore the need to stretch daily is not optional.

I treat so many cases of back pain in my clinic here in Minneapolis. From my experience recovery time is always shortened when people stretch conscientiously. Stretching reduces muscle tension and increases range of motion. This book has invaluable sections for everyday stretching, lower back tension, upper body, legs, and stretches for those over 50. Plus it has specific stretches for sports such as cycling, golf, dance, martial arts, tennis, weight training and running.

Use the knowledge in this book to reduce your recovery time from injury or pain and to help prevent injuries from occurring. Author Bob Anderson created a user friendly, informative classic that can help you feel relaxed, refreshed and happy just by doing stretches. And as the Chinese say, “Stay as young as you can for as long as you can.”