Lower Back Pain: How TCM Can Provide Relief

17 Mar 2025

By: Yi TCM Admin

What is Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain means you feel aches and pains in the lumbar area of your spine. Its primary cause stems from physical injuries or strains, including fractures, that can impair your movement and range of motion and worsen over time if left untreated. Common symptoms include a sharp or dull ache in your lower back, pain when you bend over or squat, and a stiff back with occasional pain episodes.

Lower back pain is one form of back pain that may arise from muscular strain, posture, injury or other underlying conditions. Learn more about the broader TCM approach to back pain, including upper and lower back discomfort.

Causes of Lower Back Pain from the TCM Viewpoint

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), lower back pain stems from an imbalance in Qi (our vital energy) and blood flow within the body. TCM holds a holistic view of healthcare, where an illness results from internal disharmony. It relates to the concept of Yin and Yang, and a deficiency in one or the other can negatively impact your well-being. TCM can provide the necessary treatments to help your body recover from said imbalances.

General Blood and Qi Deficiency

Healthy Qi flow is facilitated by meridians, which run throughout the body. A deficiency or stagnation of blood and Qi flow in the body due to illness or some other imbalance can compromise your physical well-being and make you feel weaker than usual. Think of it as a traffic jam obstructing healthy Qi and blood flow to where it needs to go. As a result, you may feel discomfort, pain or even limited range of motion in your lower back.

Kidney Qi Deficiency

The lower back is considered the “mansion of the kidneys,” partly because the kidney meridian runs along your spine. Any blockages or imbalances affecting this meridian can also affect your lower back, manifesting as weakness, pain or discomfort, and can be compounded by old age and a lack of exercise.

Liver Qi Deficiency

The liver is another organ vital to the menstrual cycle’s functioning, primarily in regulating the flow of Qi and blood throughout your body. When blood flow and Qi become stagnant due to blood stasis (a pooling or slowing of blood flow in the body) and internal imbalances, it can manifest as lower back pain. Your emotional state can also influence this stagnation, particularly with negative emotions like stress, anger, and resentment.

Cold-Dampness

The accumulation of cold and dampness can lead to poor energy, heaviness, inflammation, and even poor range of motion. The leading cause of cold-dampness is external pathogens that enter the body, including those from the environment and poor dietary habits.

TCM for Lower Back Pain Treatment

Unlike Western medicine’s systemic approach, which looks for and treats specific symptoms, TCM examines the underlying issues and treats them to prevent recurrence. TCM is an excellent complementary therapy that supports your medical journey with various holistic treatment methods to help your recovery. Depending on the primary cause of your lower back pain, the duration of your treatment may vary.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves gently inserting thin, sterilised needles at specific acupuncture points (acupoints) to undo Qi and blood flow blockages in your body that may contribute to lower back pain. From a modern physiological perspective, acupuncture stimulates sensory nerves in the skin and muscles. This stimulation may influence the nervous system and the way pain signals are processed, which may help reduce pain and muscle tension in some individuals. Research has also explored acupuncture as a complementary approach for managing lower back pain, although individual responses can vary. In fact, a systematic review has shown that acupuncture is effective in reducing pain immediately for lower back aches. For a broader explanation of the proposed mechanisms involved, learn more about how acupuncture may work for pain relief.

Cupping

This therapy places suction cups along your lower back to pull your skin and underlying tissues into the cup. This helps with circulation and relieves pain and muscle tension while improving your range of motion as blood and Qi circulation return to normal.

Herbal Remedies

A specially brewed herbal medication can help promote better health and alleviate lower back pain. Your TCM practitioner will prepare a herbal concoction to help improve Qi and blood flow within your body, nourish your organs, dispel all harmful deficiencies, and provide pain relief. Some herbs you may typically be prescribed that helps with reducing lower backpain include:

Ginseng (Ren Shen): This beneficial herb is packed with antioxidants and other nutrients and is ideal for tonifying the body and undoing Qi deficiencies.
Dang Gui: Derived from angelica root, Dang Gui helps promote better blood flow and prevent blood stagnation.
Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang): This herb serves to tonify the blood and the Yin of the kidneys to alleviate internal deficiencies.
Fu Ling: This herb helps to remove dampness from the body and indirectly helps to nourish it.

Taking Care of Your Lower Back

Various lifestyle modifications that reduce strain on the lower back can mitigate lower back pain. Consider implementing these tips into your daily life.

Regular exercise: 20 minutes a day, three times a week, is a good amount of exercise. You can gradually build up the intensity as you get used to your routine.
Avoid stressing your body out: Avoid overexerting yourself, as you can easily strain your lower back if you are not careful.
Maintain a healthy diet: Include more nutritious options in your everyday diet (more fruits and vegetables, less fatty foods); minimise cold foods and drinks that may slow down blood and Qi flow in the body.
Good posture: Maintain a healthy posture when standing, sitting down, and lifting heavy objects to reduce the strain on your lower back.
Rest well: Ensure you get sufficient rest and sleep so you do not overexert your body.
Relax: Rest and unwind with your favourite activities if you feel stressed out. Your emotional state can also impact your overall well-being.

Get Comprehensive TCM Care For Your Spinal Health

At Yi TCM, we prioritise your well-being above all else. We provide holistic health care through Eastern and Western medical knowledge, in addition to fertility care. Contact us today for a detailed consultation for caring for your spinal health, and our highly qualified practitioners will recommend the most suitable treatments and herbal remedies you need.

Our TCM Physicians for Lower Back Pain Management

Senior Physician
Frederick Koh 许医师

Email contact: frederick@yitcm.com.sg

Bachelor of Science (First Class Hons) in Biomedical Science (Nanyang Technological University)
Bachelor of TCM (Beijing University of Chinese Medicine)
Registered with TCM Practitioner’s Board, Singapore
Certified Neurokinetic Therapy Practitioner

TCM Physician
Rou Yi 丁医师

General Wellness | Pediatrics | Women’s Health | Fertility | Pain Management

Email contact: tengry@yitcm.com.sg

Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biomedical Science (Nanyang Technological University)
Bachelor of TCM (Beijing University of Chinese Medicine)
Registered with TCM Practitioner’s Board, Singapore

References:

Gypson, W. & Morse, L. (2019). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Back Pain. Retrieved 11th February 2024 from https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/back-pain/traditional-chinese-medicine-tcm-back-pain

Liu, L., Skinner, M., McDonough, S., Mabire, L., & Baxter, G. D. (2015). Acupuncture for low back pain: an overview of systematic reviews. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM, 2015, 328196. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/328196

The Jade Centre. (n.d.). TCM & Acupuncture for Back Pain. Retrieved 11th February 2024 from https://thejadecentre.co.uk/tcm-acupuncture-for-back-pain/

Yuan, Q. L., Guo, T. M., Liu, L., Sun, F., & Zhang, Y. G. (2015). Traditional Chinese medicine for neck pain and low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS oOne, 10(2), e0117146. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117146

Lower Back Pain: How TCM Can Provide Relief

What is Lower Back Pain?