Bend down to pick something up and suddenly can't straighten your back? Feeling electric-shock-like numbness and pain radiating from your buttock down your leg? These tormenting symptoms likely point to lumbar disc herniation. In Singapore's hot and humid climate, coupled with sedentary lifestyles in air-conditioned rooms and lack of exercise, more and more people suffer from this condition.
How does TCM view lumbar disc herniation?
Senior TCM physicians at Gong Fang Tang emphasize it's not just a bone issue. The core lies in “tendons failing to support the bones, and qi-blood circulation being blocked”:
External Causes: Chronic poor posture, excessive weight-bearing, or acute sprains cause the "cushion" (disc) between lumbar vertebrae to compress and deform, pressing on nerves.
Internal Causes: Liver-Kidney deficiency is the root. The Liver governs tendons, the Kidneys govern bones. Deficiency in Liver and Kidneys leads to malnourishment of tendons and bones, making discs more prone to degeneration and fragility. Combined with Qi-blood stagnation and cold-dampness obstruction, blocked circulation causes pain and radiating numbness.
Gong Fang Tang's Signature Step-by-Step Therapy: Beyond Pain Relief, Targeting the Root
1. Acute Phase: Rapid Relief of Severe Pain & Numbness
Precision Acupuncture + Cupping: Needling key points in the lower back and legs (e.g., BL23 Shenshu, BL25 Dachangshu, GB30 Huantiao, BL40 Weizhong) combined with cupping quickly clears blockages, reducing severe pain and numbness from nerve compression. Many patients feel relief after the first session.
Herbal External Application for Swelling: Specially formulated herbal patches/poultices with blood-activating, stasis-resolving, and cold-dispersing properties are applied directly to the affected area, targeting local inflammation and swelling.
2. Recovery Phase: Repairing Tendons & Bones, Tonifying Liver & Kidneys
Tendon-Smoothing & Bone-Aligning Techniques (Tuina): Physicians use gentle yet deep-penetrating manual techniques to relax stiff back muscles, correct minor joint misalignments, and reduce disc pressure. “Soft tendons enable proper bone alignment.”
Internal Herbal Medicine for Root Treatment: Formulas tailored to individual constitution:
Liver-Kidney Deficiency Type (sore, weak lower back/knees): Modified Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Angelica Pubescens & Sangjisheng Decoction) to tonify Liver/Kidneys, strengthen tendons/bones.
Qi-Blood Stagnation Type (fixed stabbing pain, worse with movement): Based on Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang (Generalized Pain Stasis-Expelling Decoction) to move Qi and blood.
Cold-Damp Obstruction Type (worse with cold, aching, heavy, cold feeling): Modified Shen Zhu Tang (Kidney-Securing Decoction) combined with Yi Yi Ren Tang (Coix Decoction) to dispel cold and resolve dampness.
Targeted Physiotherapy: Combined with infrared light therapy, TDP lamps, etc., to promote local blood circulation and tissue repair.
3. Rehabilitation Phase: Strengthening Tendons & Bones, Preventing Recurrence
Functional Exercise Guidance: Teaching safe and effective back muscle strengthening exercises (e.g., modified "Little Swallow" pose, bridge exercise) to enhance lumbar stability.
Lifestyle Adjustment Plan: Personalized advice on sitting/sleeping postures and safe lifting techniques to avoid recurrence triggers.
Why Choose Gong Fang Tang for Lumbar Disc Herniation?
Accurate Syndrome Differentiation: Looks beyond the "herniation" surface to identify the root causes like Liver-Kidney deficiency and Qi-blood stagnation.
Step-by-Step Treatment: Clear plan - relieve symptoms fast in the acute phase, treat both symptoms and root in recovery, consolidate gains and prevent relapse in rehabilitation.
Safe Manual Techniques: Gentle and precise tendon/bone adjustment techniques, avoiding risks of forceful manipulation.
Holistic Emphasis: Combines internal herbal regulation and lifestyle interventions to reduce recurrence risk.
Lumbar disc herniation is NOT synonymous with "must have surgery"! Through Gong Fang Tang's systematic TCM step-by-step therapy, most patients can effectively alleviate pain and numbness, restoring daily mobility. The key lies in early intervention, consistent treatment, and giving the body the chance to heal and repair itself.
