Lumbar disc herniation is a condition where the intervertebral disc in the lumbar spine undergoes degenerative changes or has developmental defects. When subjected to external forces, the annulus fibrosus of the lumbar spine ruptures, and the internal nucleus pulposus protrudes, stimulating and compressing the surrounding nerves and blood vessels, leading to pain in the waist and the sciatic nerve pathway of the lower limbs. It is also known as "rupture of the lumbar intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus." This condition is more common in young and middle-aged individuals, with a higher prevalence in males than in females. Clinically, it is mainly manifested by stiffness and rigidity of the waist muscles, changes in the physiological anterior convexity of the lumbar spine (reduced or disappeared, or even posterior convexity), varying degrees of spinal lateral bending, and patients bending the waist to the healthy side or the affected side. There is radiating pain in the waist and the sciatic nerve area of the lower limbs, which can be exacerbated by coughing, sneezing, or abdominal muscle force when the intra-abdominal pressure increases, and alleviated by rest. Limitations in waist movement, leg extension, bending, and other activities, severe cases have difficulty walking, reduced or disappeared sensation in the waist and legs, and cannot turn over freely after lying in bed. Lumbar disc herniation falls under the category of "Bi Syndrome" in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The waist is affected by the evils of cold and dampness, sprains, and twists, causing poor blood circulation in the waist, or the waist is not properly nourished, causing pain in the waist and legs.
Cold-Dampness Invasion Type: There is a cold, heavy pain in the waist, difficulty in turning, worsening with cold, alleviation with warmth, and exacerbation during rainy and overcast weather; the tongue is pale, with a white greasy coating, and the pulse is deep.
Damp-Heat Accumulation Type: There is a cold, heavy pain in the waist, which intensifies during the summer's hot and humid weather, with a feeling of body heaviness and discomfort, and short, difficult urination; the tongue coating is yellow and greasy, and the pulse is moist.
Stasis-Blood Obstruction Type: There is often a history of injury from sprains or impacts in the waist area. The waist experiences sharp, stabbing pain that is resistant to pressure, with symptoms being lighter during the day and worse at night, and there may be ecchymosis; the tongue is dark, and the pulse is unsmooth.
Qi and Blood Deficiency Type: Commonly seen in patients with a long disease course and those who have not healed over time. There is a dull pain in the waist, with a preference for warmth and pressure, a pale complexion, fatigue, lack of energy, and reluctance to speak; the tongue coating is white, and the pulse is thin.
It is recommended to perform moxibustion once a day, targeting 2 to 3 acupoints each time, with each acupoint being treated for 30 to 40 minutes. Rotate the points treated, with a 10-day period constituting one course of treatment, and then rest for 2 to 3 days before continuing with the next course. (If time permits and there is a need, more acupoints can be treated with moxibustion. The specific duration should be adjusted according to one's own physical needs.)
1. During the acute phase, it is important to strictly limit activities involving the waist, pay attention to resting on a firm bed, and keep the waist warm. 2. During the alleviation phase, moderately activate the waist, but be mindful not to overextend or lift heavy loads. When bending to lift objects, pay attention to the correct posture: bend the knees and hips first before lifting heavy objects to avoid waist injuries. 3. Dietary therapy recipe: Yellow Dragon Seafood Soup. 500 grams of eel, 100 grams of lobster. Clean the eel with warm water and remove the internal organs. Cook it with the lobster until done, add a small amount of ginger and salt. Drink the soup and eat the eel and lobster, once every 3 days. It is particularly suitable for patients with lumbar disc herniation due to kidney yang deficiency and blood stasis.