I experience severe back pain which is sometimes aggravated by walking. Can acupuncture help?

Back pain usually originates from the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, bones, joints and other structures in the spine.

The pain may be sudden and it can be chronic or intermittent. It can also be localised or radiate to other parts of the body and the intensity often ranges from dull to piercing and burning.

Other symptoms include numbness and a tingling sensation in the affected area. If the condition persists after three days, seek medical attention immediately.

Back pain is due to a deficiency in the functions of the liver and kidney, insufficient kidney 'yang', as well as liver and kidney 'yin'. Poor 'qi' and blood circulation and pathogenic factors such as wind, cold, heat and dampness are also responsible.

Acupoints such as shenshu and weizhong from the bladder meridian of foot-taiyang are used to relieve back pain and strengthen the kidney's function, while weiyang is used to dispel wind and cold.

Chinese medicine such as desertliving cistanche (roucongrong) and morinda root (bajitian) are prescribed to increase liver and kidney 'yang', while talc (huashi) and bamboo shavings (zhuru) are used to dispel dampness. Ground dragon (dilong) and black snake (wushaoshe) help dispel wind, while Chinese angelica (danggui) and hirsute shiny bugleweed herb (zelan) improve circulation of 'qi' and blood.

In addition, milkvetch root (huangqi) and medicinal changium root (dangshen) assist in the production of 'qi' and blood.

Processed rehmannia root (shudihuang), fleeceflower root (heshouwu), glossy privet fruit (nuzhenzi) and white peony root (baishao) help increase liver and kidney 'yin'.

Avoid bad posture such as slouching. Sleep for at least eight hours daily to help the production of 'qi' and blood. This nourishes your muscles and joints, as well as strengthens your immune system. Keep warm because it improves blood circulation and prevents cold and dampness from affecting your back and joints.

Information provided by Lim Lay Beng, a TCM physician at YS Healthcare TCM Clinic in The Adelphi.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.