Musculoskeletal & Pain Management

We see a lot of patients presenting with a wide range of musculoskeletal complaints. Why is this so common and what causes the pain? One of the key things you learn at Chinese medicine school is that “If there is free flow, there is no pain; if there is pain, there is lack of free flow” (“Tong ze bu tong; bu tong ze tong”). Therefore, the key to resolving pain is to resolve stagnation and restore the proper flow of Qi and blood.

Sometimes it is more convenient to ignore the problem or manage it with pain killers. However, it is best to work on the pain as soon as it arises. In some cases, simple movement can help the body to regain balance, in other cases a treatment is necessary to help restore proper musculoskeletal function. Acupuncture and different auxiliary techniques such as moxibustion, cupping, electroacupuncture or gua sha, can be used to resolve the blockage and relieve pain.