Musculoskeletal pain in the condition most commonly treated by acupuncture today. In our acupuncture clinic on the Upper East Side in New York, we see pain conditions very frequently. Often times these conditions may be complicated by stress or other systemic issues that need to be addressed in addition to enhance the healing process.
In the Ling Shu there is one chapter that is entirely devoted to the treatment of pain, that is Ling Shu chapter 13. In this chapter, the sinew channels are discussed. The sinew channels are pathways of functional muscle and connective tissue groups that work together. Each channel has a different movement. Some channels are responsible for extending the body, others are responsible for the movements of flexion, and others facilitate twisting and turning motions. In general each channel begins at the most distal regions of the body, from a finger or toe then they ascend through the major joints and end either on the chest or the head depending on the channel. As a classical acupuncturist, our job is to inspect the entire pathway and determine where the channel fails to function properly. Let us examine the urinary bladder sinew channel:
We see the channel begins on the little toe and three branches ascend through the heel and calf where it minds at the back of knee. It then ascends through the back of the thigh,, glute, entire back to the nape of the neck. Then ascends to the top of head and descends to the region besides the nose. Branches from the main trunk pass through the shoulder blade, trapezius, and shoulder.
Back and neck pain account for the most common complaints. In order to resolve back pain most effectively, the entire regions of the sinew channel should be examined and treated accordingly.
The method of treatment is to look for the painful points along the entire pathway, areas of constriction in the muscles, or to assess the five tissue plane function and resolve any pathologies that are presenting. The five tissue planes are the skin, vessel, subcutaneous tissue, tendons and bone. Each of these tissue planes have a specific technique for resolving dysfunction and promoting circulation to the intended area. At Medina Wellness in the Upper East Side, we practice classical Nei Jing acupuncture which views the body as a 3 dimensional system. As we look at the body in this way, we can achieve greater results when treating pain and musculoskeletal dysfunctions.