Traditional Chinese medicine treatment for lumbar degenerative osteoarthritis: acupoint injection, Chinese medicine ion introduction

Author: Zhu Yuqi, Chief Physician, Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Reviewer: Zhang Zhihai, Chief Physician, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, lumbar degenerative osteoarthritis belongs to the category of "lumbar paralysis" and "lumbar pain". Traditional Chinese medicine believes that due to insufficient innate endowment, with the increase of age, the lumbar degeneration is faster, the degenerative changes are aggravated, and the invasion of wind, cold and dampness and cumulative damage lead to poor blood circulation and blockage, and the tendons and bones are not well nourished, which will cause joint pain.

In clinical practice, we have gradually explored the five-combination therapy of traditional Chinese medicine to treat osteoarthritis. After long-term clinical practice, it has been proven to be safe and effective, and the effect is very good during clinical application. The five-combination therapy includes acupoint injection, Chinese herbal decoction, Chinese herbal ion introduction, acupuncture, and massage. The combined use of these five schemes can relieve symptoms, enhance the body's ability to repair itself, and is very helpful for pain improvement and functional rehabilitation. Generally speaking, the five-combination therapy is mainly based on acupoint injection, and one or two of the four methods of Chinese herbal decoction, Chinese herbal ion introduction, acupuncture, and massage are selected for use according to the situation. Generally, Chinese herbal ion introduction is used more often in combination with acupoint injection.

Today we will learn about acupoint injection and Chinese medicine ion introduction treatment.

1. Acupoint injection

Acupoint injection is to inject drugs into acupoints. The injection needle is equivalent to acupuncture, which has a stimulating effect on the acupoints. After the injected drugs are absorbed, they can play the role of the drugs themselves. Therefore, acupoint injection has the three-in-one therapeutic effect of acupuncture, acupoints, and drugs. Acupoint injection can enhance the body's self-repair ability, improve the body's defense ability, unclog the meridians, open up the meridians, and there will be no pain, and the problem will be solved.

The pathological basis of lumbar degenerative osteoarthritis is joint degenerative changes. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that it is caused by insufficient kidney qi and poor blood circulation. Generally, the injection points are the Zhibian point on one side and the Zusanli point on both sides. In addition, Chengshan point, Weizhong point, Yaoshu point, Shenshu point, and Kunlun point can also be selected. Deer melon polypeptide and adenosylcobalamin are generally used as injection drugs. Deer melon polypeptide is injected into the bilateral Zusanli acupoints, and adenosylcobalamin, which nourishes the nerves, is injected into the Zhibian point on one side. These two drugs can solve most of the problems. In addition, Angelica injection, Salvia miltiorrhiza injection, Safflower injection, and bone strengthening injection are also effective.

Figure 1 Original copyright image, no permission to reprint

Generally speaking, acupoint injection is very safe. Relatively common problems include drug allergy, nerve damage, nerve injury during injection, or high drug concentration irritating the nerve, and bleeding, when small blood vessels are touched during injection. The incidence of these adverse reactions is generally low.

2. Ion introduction of traditional Chinese medicine

Chinese medicine ion introduction therapy is to heat the Chinese medicine liquid to 45℃-50℃, soak the gauze pad in the Chinese medicine, put it on the electrode after soaking, and then put the electrode on the selected acupuncture points or painful areas, usually two electrode plates.

After the electrode plate is connected to direct current, a movement pattern similar to massage techniques is generated. Through the action of the direct current electric field, the Chinese medicine ingredients are ionized into effective ions, which is equivalent to a massage with a hot medicine pad. The liquid medicine ingredients directly penetrate into the skin and acupuncture points, promote blood circulation, reduce local spasms, reduce local inflammatory reactions, and reduce the symptoms of waist pain. The treatment process is comfortable, painless, and safe.

Figure 2 Original copyright image, no permission to reprint

The Chinese medicine used in Chinese medicine ion introduction is based on the patient's specific situation and constitution, and the prescription is different for each person. Generally speaking, it is done once a day, and each time it takes 20 minutes. Now there are some machines and equipment that can be used at home. Under the guidance of a doctor, you can prescribe some suitable Chinese medicine and make it yourself at home.