Traditional Chinese Medicine explains lumbar disc herniation

In daily life, more and more people are suffering from lumbar disc herniation. Lumbar disc herniation has a great impact on human health. Once it is suffered, it should be taken seriously and treated in time. Long-term lumbar disc herniation will cause sciatica and cause patients to have leg numbness and weakness. It is very harmful to patients, especially affecting the quality of daily life. How does traditional Chinese medicine treat lumbar disc herniation?

What is lumbar disc herniation explained by traditional Chinese medicine?

Lumbar and cervical spondylosis are classified into the categories of "low back pain", "low back and leg pain" and "arthritis" in traditional Chinese medicine based on their clinical manifestations. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the cause of the disease is: internal deficiency and insufficient vital energy, as well as invasion of cold and dampness, which lead to imbalance of yin and yang inside and outside the spine, and disorder of qi and blood circulation. Stagnation syndrome is caused by local blood stasis, internal retention of dampness, poor flow of Qi, and failure to circulate Qi.

Internal treatment with traditional Chinese medicine is mainly aimed at the pathogenesis of lumbar and cervical spondylosis, to relieve stagnation, eliminate local and overall congestion and compression, and release pressure. It can improve the blood supply to the lesions of the lumbar and cervical spine, promote local blood circulation and eliminate nerve root edema. Reduce stimulation to nerve roots, promote recovery of muscle function, thereby relieving pain and promoting absorption of inflammation. At the same time, we should consider strengthening and nourishing, and repairing the damaged and degenerative roots of a series of links that lead to lumbar disc herniation.

Methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Treating Lumbar Disc Herniation

1. Chinese medicine injection: Intravenous drip of Chinese medicine preparations can invigorate blood circulation, improve local circulation, and enhance anti-inflammatory effects. Commonly used ones include sodium aescinate, salvia miltiorrhiza injection, etc.

2. Oral Chinese medicine: Lumbar disc herniation is often caused by kidney deficiency, weak Governor Vessel, dampness blocking blood stasis, and malnutrition of tendons and vessels. During treatment, medicines that can nourish the kidney and strengthen the Governor Vessel, remove dampness and activate blood circulation, and soften the meridians and dredge the collaterals can be used, such as Eucommia ulmoides, Lycium barbarum, Achyranthes bidentata, Angelica dahurica, Millettia reticulata, antler glue, Clematis chinensis, Angelica sinensis, Dipsacus asper, frankincense, myrrh, peach kernel, safflower, Eupolyphaga sinensis, white peony root, papaya, roasted licorice, Lycopodiella cuneata, Angelica dahurica, Gentiana macrophylla, etc.

3. External application of Chinese medicine: External application of Chinese medicine can be used as an auxiliary treatment of internal Chinese medicine. Generally, drugs that can dredge meridians, promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis are selected for external application on the affected area to improve local blood circulation or relieve pain through the heating effect. It can directly penetrate the skin and reach deep soft tissues, eliminate aseptic inflammation, loosen soft tissue adhesions, promote nutrient absorption, and enhance the elasticity of muscles and ligaments, thereby relieving pressure on nerves and achieving the purpose of analgesia, anti-inflammatory and rehabilitation with a low recurrence rate.

What are the common symptoms of lumbar disc herniation?

1. Numbness and decreased sensation. Many patients with severe lumbar disc herniation will experience numbness in the lower limbs. The specific segment of the lumbar disc herniation can often be determined by whether the numbness is in the instep or the sole. There are also many patients who only experience lower limb numbness without lower limb pain. If the 5th lumbar nerve root is damaged, there will be sensory impairment in the anterior medial part of the dorsum of the foot and the lateral part of the calf; if the 1st sacral nerve root is damaged, there will be sensory impairment in the lateral part of the foot and the little toe.

2. The pain is mainly limited to the sciatic nerve distribution area, the posterior thigh, the posterior and lateral side of the calf and the foot. Patients with severe pain may adopt a unique posture: flexing the waist, bending the knees, and standing on tiptoes. If the lesion is located at the nerve root, the pain will worsen when the pressure in the spinal canal increases (coughing, exerting force).