Back Clinic Functional Medicine Team. Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
Practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.
By changing the disease-centered focus of medical practice to this patient-centered approach, our physicians are able to support the healing process by viewing health and illness as part of a cycle in which all components of the human biological system interact dynamically with the environment. This process helps to seek and identify genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that may shift a person’s health from illness to well-being.
For individuals dealing with eczema, can incorporating acupuncture into a treatment plan help manage and reduce symptoms?
Acupuncture for Eczema
Eczema is a chronic skin disorder that causes intense itching, dry skin, and rashes. Common treatment options for eczema include:
Moisturizers
Topical steroids
Prescription medications
Some research suggests that acupuncture may also help individuals with eczema. In recent years, researchers have looked at acupuncture as a possible treatment option and found that it can reduce symptoms.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting thin metallic needles in specific acupoints in the body. It is believed that by stimulating specific points, the body’s central nervous system activates and releases certain chemicals designed to enable healing. Ailments that are treated using acupuncture include: (Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2024)
Headaches
Back pain
Nausea
Asthma
Osteoarthritis
Fibromyalgia
Treatment
Studies have found that acupuncture could be a treatment option depending on the severity of the condition and the intensity of the itching sensations. (Ruimin Jiao et al., 2020) The needles are placed at various points associated with relieving the condition. These points include: (Zhiwen Zeng et al., 2021)
LI4
Located at the base of the thumb and index finger.
It has been shown to help reduce inflammation and irritation.
LI11
This point is located within the elbow to reduce itchiness and dryness.
LV3
Located on the top of the foot, this point reduces stress on the nervous system.
SP6
The SP6 is on the lower calf above the ankle and can help reduce inflammation, redness, and skin irritation.
SP10
This point is located adjacent to the knee and reduces itchiness and inflammation.
ST36
This point is located below the knee on the back of the leg and is used to improve overall well-being.
Eczema flare-ups are also linked to stress and anxiety. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress, which can also help relieve eczema symptoms (Beate Wild et al., 2020).
Acupuncture helps repair skin barrier damage or the outer part of the skin designed to protect the body. (Rezan Akpinar, Saliha Karatay, 2018)
Individuals with eczema tend to have a weakened skin barrier; this benefit can also improve symptoms. (National Eczema Association. 2023)
Individuals with eczema often have an overactive immune system contributing to the disorder.
According to research, acupuncture can also help in regulating the immune system. (Zhiwen Zeng et al., 2021)
Risks
Acupuncture is generally considered safe, but there are some risks to be aware of. These risks include: (Ruimin Jiao et al., 2020)
Swelling where the needles are inserted.
Red spots on the skin.
Increased itchiness.
A rash known as erythema – occurs when small blood vessels are injured.
Most studies on acupuncture for eczema show positive results that prove it can aid in relieving symptoms. (SeHyun Kang et al., 2018) (Ruimin Jiao et al., 2020) However, individuals should talk to their healthcare provider to see if it’s a safe option.
Jiao, R., Yang, Z., Wang, Y., Zhou, J., Zeng, Y., & Liu, Z. (2020). The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for patients with atopic eczema: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, 38(1), 3–14. doi.org/10.1177/0964528419871058
Zeng, Z., Li, M., Zeng, Y., Zhang, J., Zhao, Y., Lin, Y., Qiu, R., Zhang, D. S., & Shang, H. C. (2021). Potential Acupoint Prescriptions and Outcome Reporting for Acupuncture in Atopic Eczema: A Scoping Review. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2021, 9994824. doi.org/10.1155/2021/9994824
Wild, B., Brenner, J., Joos, S., Samstag, Y., Buckert, M., & Valentini, J. (2020). Acupuncture in persons with an increased stress level-Results from a randomized-controlled pilot trial. PloS one, 15(7), e0236004. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236004
Akpinar R, Karatay S. (2018). Positive Effects of Acupuncture on Atopic Dermatitis. International Journal of Allergy Medications 4:030. doi.org/10.23937/2572-3308.1510030
Kang, S., Kim, Y. K., Yeom, M., Lee, H., Jang, H., Park, H. J., & Kim, K. (2018). Acupuncture improves symptoms in patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis: A randomized, sham-controlled preliminary trial. Complementary therapies in medicine, 41, 90–98. doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.08.013
Can incorporating nopal or prickly pear cactus into one’s diet help individuals trying to lower blood glucose, inflammation, and risk factors associated with heart and metabolic diseases?
Nopal
Nopal, also known as prickly pear cactus, is a versatile vegetable that can be added to nutrition plans to increase fiber intake, vitamins, minerals, and plant-based compounds. It grows in the U.S. Southwest, Latin America, and the Mediterranean. The pads, or the nopales or cactus paddles, have a texture like okra and slight tartness. The prickly pear cactus fruit, referred to as tuna in Spanish, is also consumed. (University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, 2019) It is often used in fruit salsas, salads, and desserts and is available as a supplement in tablet and powder form.
Nopal is highly nutritious, low in calories, free of fat, sodium, or cholesterol, and full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and betalains. (Parisa Rahimi et al., 2019) Betalains are pigments with anti-inflammatory properties. The variety of fibers creates a low glycemic index (measures how much a specific food raises blood sugar levels after consumption) of about 32, a recommended addition to a diabetes-friendly diet. (Patricia López-Romero et al., 2014)
Compounds
Nopal contains a variety of beneficial carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
Nopal has soluble and insoluble fiber, which benefits blood sugar.
It also contains vitamin A, carotenoids, vitamin C, calcium, and plant-based compounds like phenols and betalains. (Karina Corona-Cervantes et al., 2022)
Blood Sugar Regulation
Research has evaluated regular nopal consumption and supplementation for blood sugar control. A study on blood sugar evaluated adding nopal to a high-carbohydrate breakfast or a breakfast high in soy protein in Mexican individuals with type 2 diabetes. The study found that consuming nopales, about 300 grams or 1.75 to 2 cups before a meal, could reduce after-meal/postprandial blood sugars. (Patricia López-Romero et al., 2014) An older study had similar results. (Montserrat Bacardi-Gascon et al., 2007) Individuals were randomly assigned to consume 85 grams of nopal with three different breakfast options:
Chilaquiles – a casserole made with corn tortilla, vegetable oil, and pinto beans.
Burritos – made with eggs, vegetable oil, and pinto beans.
Quesadillas – made with flour tortillas, low-fat cheese, avocado, and pinto beans.
The groups assigned to eat nopales had reductions in blood sugar. There was a:
30% reduction in the chilaquiles group.
20% decrease in the burrito group.
48% reduction in the quesadilla group.
However, the studies were small, and the population was not diverse. so further research is needed.
Increased Fiber
The combination of soluble and insoluble fiber benefits the gut in various ways. Soluble fiber can act as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial bacteria in the gut and assisting in removing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from the body. Insoluble fiber increases transit time, or how quickly food moves through the digestive system and promotes bowel regularity. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022) In a short-term randomized clinical control trial, researchers found an improvement in irritable bowel syndrome symptoms in individuals supplemented with 20 and 30 grams of nopal fiber. (Jose M Remes-Troche et al., 2021) For individuals not used to consuming fibrous foods, it may cause mild diarrhea, so it is recommended to increase intake slowly and with adequate water to prevent gas and bloating.
Plant Based Calcium
One cup of nopal provides 244 milligrams or 24% of daily calcium needs. Calcium is a mineral that optimizes bone and teeth health. It also assists in blood vessel contraction and dilation, muscle function, blood clotting, nerve transmission, and hormonal secretion. (National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements 2024) Individuals who follow diets that exclude dairy products can benefit from plant-based calcium sources. This includes cruciferous vegetables like kale, collards, and arugula.
Other Benefits
Studies done in animals and test tubes suggest that fresh nopal and extracts may assist in reducing triglycerides and cholesterol in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease or when unhealthy amounts of fat accumulate in the liver. (Karym El-Mostafa et al., 2014) Other potential benefits with limited evidence include:
Unless individuals are allergic to it, most can eat whole nopal without a problem. However, supplementing is different because it provides a concentrated source. Individuals taking medication to manage diabetes and consuming nopal regularly may contribute to an increased risk of developing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Dermatitis has also been reported from contact with the cactus spines. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, FoodData Central, 2018) There have been rare reports of bowel obstruction in individuals who consume large amounts of the seeds found in the fruit. (Karym El-Mostafa et al., 2014) Ask a registered dietitian or primary healthcare provider if nopal can provide safe benefits.
Rahimi, P., Abedimanesh, S., Mesbah-Namin, S. A., & Ostadrahimi, A. (2019). Betalains, the nature-inspired pigments, in health and diseases. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 59(18), 2949–2978. doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2018.1479830
López-Romero, P., Pichardo-Ontiveros, E., Avila-Nava, A., Vázquez-Manjarrez, N., Tovar, A. R., Pedraza-Chaverri, J., & Torres, N. (2014). The effect of nopal (Opuntia ficus indica) on postprandial blood glucose, incretins, and antioxidant activity in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes after consumption of two different composition breakfasts. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 114(11), 1811–1818. doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2014.06.352
Corona-Cervantes, K., Parra-Carriedo, A., Hernández-Quiroz, F., Martínez-Castro, N., Vélez-Ixta, J. M., Guajardo-López, D., García-Mena, J., & Hernández-Guerrero, C. (2022). Physical and Dietary Intervention with Opuntia ficus-indica (Nopal) in Women with Obesity Improves Health Condition through Gut Microbiota Adjustment. Nutrients, 14(5), 1008. doi.org/10.3390/nu14051008
Bacardi-Gascon, M., Dueñas-Mena, D., & Jimenez-Cruz, A. (2007). Lowering effect on postprandial glycemic response of nopales added to Mexican breakfasts. Diabetes care, 30(5), 1264–1265. doi.org/10.2337/dc06-2506
Remes-Troche, J. M., Taboada-Liceaga, H., Gill, S., Amieva-Balmori, M., Rossi, M., Hernández-Ramírez, G., García-Mazcorro, J. F., & Whelan, K. (2021). Nopal fiber (Opuntia ficus-indica) improves symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome in the short term: a randomized controlled trial. Neurogastroenterology and motility, 33(2), e13986. doi.org/10.1111/nmo.13986
El-Mostafa, K., El Kharrassi, Y., Badreddine, A., Andreoletti, P., Vamecq, J., El Kebbaj, M. S., Latruffe, N., Lizard, G., Nasser, B., & Cherkaoui-Malki, M. (2014). Nopal cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a source of bioactive compounds for nutrition, health and disease. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 19(9), 14879–14901. doi.org/10.3390/molecules190914879
Onakpoya, I. J., O’Sullivan, J., & Heneghan, C. J. (2015). The effect of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 31(5), 640–646. doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2014.11.015
Corona-Cervantes, K., Parra-Carriedo, A., Hernández-Quiroz, F., Martínez-Castro, N., Vélez-Ixta, J. M., Guajardo-López, D., García-Mena, J., & Hernández-Guerrero, C. (2022). Physical and Dietary Intervention with Opuntia ficus-indica (Nopal) in Women with Obesity Improves Health Condition through Gut Microbiota Adjustment. Nutrients, 14(5), 1008. doi.org/10.3390/nu14051008
For individuals who want to eat healthier, can selection and moderation make mayonnaise a delicious and nutritious addition to a low-carbohydrate diet?
Mayonnaise Nutrition
Mayonnaise is used in various recipes, including sandwiches, tuna salad, deviled eggs, and tartar sauce. It is often considered unhealthy, as it is mostly fat and, as a result, calorie-dense. Calories and fat can quickly add up when not paying attention to portion sizes.
What Is It?
It is a blend of different ingredients.
It combines oil, egg yolk, an acidic liquid (lemon juice or vinegar), and mustard.
The ingredients become a thick, creamy, permanent emulsion when blended slowly.
The key is in the emulsion, combining two liquids that would otherwise not naturally come together, which turns the liquid oil into a solid.
The Science
Emulsification happens when an emulsifier – the egg yolk – binds the water-loving/hydrophilic and oil-loving/lipophilic components.
The emulsifier binds the lemon juice or vinegar with the oil and does not allow separation, producing a stable emulsion. (Viktoria Olsson et al., 2018)
In homemade mayonnaise, the emulsifiers are mainly the lecithin from the egg yolk and a similar ingredient in mustard.
Commercial mayonnaise brands often use other types of emulsifiers and stabilizers.
Health
It contains health-promoting properties, such as vitamin E, which improves heart health, and vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting. (USDA, FoodData Central, 2018)
It can also be made with healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, which maintain brain, heart, and skin health.
While reduced-fat mayonnaise has fewer calories and less fat than regular mayonnaise, the fat is often replaced with starches or sugar to improve texture and flavor.
For individuals watching carbohydrates or sugar in their diet, check the nutrition label and ingredients before deciding on the right mayonnaise.
Body In Balance: Chiropractic, Fitness, and Nutrition
References
Olsson, V., Håkansson, A., Purhagen, J., & Wendin, K. (2018). The Effect of Emulsion Intensity on Selected Sensory and Instrumental Texture Properties of Full-Fat Mayonnaise. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 7(1), 9. doi.org/10.3390/foods7010009
Mozafari, H. R., Hosseini, E., Hojjatoleslamy, M., Mohebbi, G. H., & Jannati, N. (2017). Optimization low-fat and low cholesterol mayonnaise production by central composite design. Journal of food science and technology, 54(3), 591–600. doi.org/10.1007/s13197-016-2436-0
Zhu, J., Li, J., & Chen, J. (2012). Survival of Salmonella in home-style mayonnaise and acid solutions as affected by acidulant type and preservatives. Journal of food protection, 75(3), 465–471. doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-11-373
Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Committee on Dietary Guidelines Implementation., Thomas, P. R., Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation., & National Cancer Institute (U.S.). (1991). Improving America’s diet and health : from recommendations to action : a report of the Committee on Dietary Guidelines Implementation, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. National Academy Press. books.nap.edu/books/0309041392/html/index.html www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235261/
For individuals dealing with ulcerative colitis, can acupuncture treatment benefit those with UC and other GI-related issues?
Acupuncture For Ulcerative Colitis
Acupuncture has been used to treat symptoms related to pain and inflammation. Studies suggest it may help reduce inflammation and symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain, which could benefit individuals with inflammatory bowel disease. Individuals with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease/IBD affecting the large intestine, may find acupuncture beneficial in managing symptoms, including pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. (Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, 2019)
The pathways connecting the acupoints generate energy, which contributes to overall health.
A disruption to the energy flow can cause injury, illness, or disease.
When acupuncture needles are inserted, energy flow and health are improved.
Benefits
Acupuncture can be used for the relief of various conditions. Studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce inflammation and disease activity in individuals with an IBD, like UC and Crohn’s disease. It can help with: (Gengqing Song et al., 2019)
Pain symptoms
Gut microbiome imbalances
Gut motor dysfunction
Intestinal barrier function
Anxiety
Depression
Studies suggest the use of acupuncture with heat, known as moxibustion, can improve several GI symptoms including (Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, 2019)
Studies found the use of acupuncture along with moxibustion reduced inflammation in individuals with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. (Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, 2019)
Stress and Mood
Chronic conditions like ulcerative colitis can cause feelings of depression and/or anxiety. Acupuncture may be used to address symptoms related to stress and mood and can benefit emotional health issues that include: (Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2024)
Insomnia
Anxiety
Nervousness
Depression
Neurosis – mental health condition characterized by chronic distress and anxiety.
Side Effects
Acupuncture is considered a safe practice. The most common side effects are: (GI Society. 2024)
Needle shock is rare but more common in individuals:
Who are regularly nervous.
Who are nervous around needles.
Who are new to acupuncture.
Who have a history of fainting.
Who are extremely fatigued.
Who have low blood sugar.
For some, GI symptoms may worsen before they improve. It is recommended to try at least five sessions as this is part of the healing process. (Cleveland Clinic. 2023) However, individuals should contact their doctor if symptoms become severe or last more than two days. (GI Society. 2024) Individuals considering acupuncture to help manage symptoms of ulcerative colitis should speak with their healthcare provider to help determine the appropriate treatment and where to start.
Wilkinson J, Faleiro R. (2007). Acupuncture in pain management. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain. 7(4), 135-138. doi.org/10.1093/bjaceaccp/mkm021
“Can understanding moderate exercise and how to measure the amount of exercise help expedite individuals’ health goals and well-being?”
Moderate Exercise
Various physical activity guidelines recommend regular, moderate exercise for achieving and maintaining health and wellness. Getting the minimum, moderate weekly physical activity can help prevent disease, increase mental well-being, support weight loss and maintenance, and improve quality of life.
Moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise includes – brisk walking, yard work, mopping, vacuuming, and playing various sports that require consistent movement.
When engaged in moderate exercise, individuals should breathe harder but still be able to carry a conversation. (American Heart Association, 2024)
The talk test is a way to monitor whether the exercise is at moderate intensity.
A heart rate chart or calculator can determine an individual’s maximum heart rate.
To measure heart rate mid-exercise, individuals can take their pulse or use a heart rate monitor, app, fitness tracker, or smartwatch to ensure they stay at a moderate intensity.
MET
M.E.T. stands for Metabolic Equivalent for Task and refers to the amount of oxygen the body uses during physical activity.
Assigning METs to an activity allows individuals to compare the amount of exertion an activity takes.
This works for individuals with different weights.
During moderate physical activity, breathing and heart rate increase, and the body burns around 3.5 to 7 calories a minute.
The actual number burned depends on your weight and fitness level.
The body uses 1 MET for basic functions like breathing.
Grades of activity:
1 MET – Body at rest
2 METs – Light activity
3-6 METs – Moderate activity
7 or more METs – Vigorous activity
Perceived Exertion Scale
Individuals can also check their activity level using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale/RPE. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022) Using this scale involves monitoring how an individual feels about how hard their body is working during physical activity. The scale starts at 6 and ends at 20. A perceived exertion between 11 and 14 is considered moderate physical activity.
6 – No exertion – sitting still or sleeping
7-8 – Extremely light exertion
9-10 – Very light exertion
11-12 – Light exertion
13-14 – Somewhat hard exertion
15-16 – Heavy exertion
17-18 – Very heavy exertion
20 – Maximum exertion
Examples
Many activities are counted as moderate-intensity exercise. Choose some appealing and learn to add them to a weekly routine.
Ballroom dancing
Line dancing
Gardening
House chores that get the heart pumping.
Softball
Baseball
Volleyball
Doubles tennis
Brisk walking
Light jogging
Walking or jogging on a treadmill
Using an elliptical trainer
Bicycling under 10 miles an hour on ground level
Leisurely swim
Water aerobics
Mobility Challenges
Individuals with mobility issues can achieve moderate intensity using a manual wheelchair or a handcycle and swimming or water aerobics.
Individuals who can use their legs but can’t tolerate walking or jogging can try bicycling or swimming.
Getting More Exercise
There are different ways to incorporate and increase moderate physical activities. These include:
10-minute Activity Bursts
Walk briskly for at least 10 minutes at a time.
Walk at an easy pace for a couple of minutes.
Pick up the pace for 10 minutes.
Try to walk during work breaks or lunch and/or before or after work.
Walking Workouts
Individuals can walk indoors, outdoors, or on a treadmill.
Proper posture and walking techniques make it easier to achieve a brisk pace.
Once comfortable walking briskly for 10 minutes, begin to extend walking time.
Try different walking workouts that offer fast walks, jogging intervals, and/or adding hills or treadmill inclines.
New Activities
Individuals are recommended to experiment with various exercises to find what works for them.
Consider roller skating, blading, or skateboarding to increase heart rate.
Moderate physical activity will get and keep the body in shape. Individuals should not become distressed if they can only do a little at first. Allow time to build endurance and gradually make time each day for enjoyable physical activities.
Can individuals dealing with gut inflammation be relieved with electroacupuncture to reduce low back pain symptoms & improve gut function?
Introduction
When it comes to the body, the gut system has a very interesting relationship to the various body groups. The gut system works with the central nervous, immune, and musculoskeletal systems as it helps protect the body from harmful bacteria while regulating inflammation. However, when environmental factors start to affect the body and cause the gut system to go haywire, it can cause numerous issues of pain and discomfort to the body. One of the issues that the gut can affect is the musculoskeletal system, causing back pain issues associated with gut inflammation. However, numerous treatments can help reduce the effects of gut inflammation that is causing back pain. Today’s article looks at the gut-back pain connection, how electroacupuncture can be integrated as a treatment, and how it can reduce inflammation. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how gut inflammation impacts their bodies, causing back pain. We also inform and guide patients on how electroacupuncture therapy can help reduce the inflammatory effects causing gut and back issues and restore gut function. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating various non-surgical treatments to reduce gut inflammation correlated with back pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Gut-Back Pain Connection
Do you feel muscle aches or pains in your gut or lower back? What about radiating heat in various areas of your body? Or have you experienced any low-energy moments throughout your day? While the gut is known as the second brain since it works with the immune system, one of its crucial roles is regulating the body’s immune system. This is because the gut microbiome houses trillions of bacteria to digest food and protect the body from bad bacteria. When environmental factors start to affect the gut’s delicate ecosystem, it can lead the immune system to be hyperactive, causing the inflammatory cytokines to mass produce, and this effect can ripple throughout the body, thus manifesting into various pain-like symptoms and conditions, including back pain. Since inflammation is the body’s defense response to injuries or infections, it removes the harmful issue in the affected area and helps heal. So when the inflammatory cytokines start to mass produce due to gut inflammation, it can compromise the gut system, allowing toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream and travel to different body areas, causing pain. Now, this is due to various environmental factors that lead to back pain development. When the harmful bacteria from inflammation start to cause back pain, they can attach themselves and affect the intervertebral disc homeostasis, causing the immune system to attack the intervertebral disc and cause back pain. (Yao et al., 2023) This is due to the connection of the gut and back through complex nerve pathways that send information from the gut to the back and up to the brain.
So, when inflammation starts to cause issues in the body, it can lead to musculoskeletal problems like back pain. Gut inflammation can cause an imbalance between the composition of the symbiont and pathobiont to decrease the integrity and function of the intestinal gut barriers, induce pain, and increase the inflammatory molecules. (Ratna et al., 2023) The inflammatory molecules can exacerbate pain receptors and muscle tension, leading to discomfort and pain in the lower back. Coincidentally, environmental factors like poor posture, physical inactivity, and poor dietary habits can cause the gut system to induce inflammation of the back muscles. When there is dysbiosis in the gut microbiota, the inflammatory effects can be indirectly associated with visceral pain and central nervous systemic functioning to alter the body and cause it to be in a persistent state of chronic systemic inflammation to induce back pain. (Dekker Nitert et al., 2020). However, there are numerous non-surgical treatments and holistic approaches to reduce gut inflammation and relieve back pain.
Integrating Electroacupuncture As Treatment
When people are experiencing back pain associated with gut inflammation, they will go to their primary healthcare doctor and explain the situation. Given the connection between gut inflammation and back pain, by addressing the environmental factors that cause these overlapping risk profiles, many doctors can work with pain specialists to reduce both gut inflammation and back pain. Pain specialists like chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists can help strengthen the affected muscles that are causing back pain and provide holistic approaches like anti-inflammatory vitamins and supplements to reduce gut inflammation. One of the oldest non-surgical treatments that can do both is electroacupuncture. Electroacupuncture combines traditional Chinese therapy and modern technology that uses electric stimulation and thin solid needles to be inserted into the body’s acupoint to obtain qi or energy. What this does is that it provides electric stimulation and anti-inflammatory effects to induce cholinergic reflexes in the gut and HPA axis. (Yang et al., 2024) Electroacupuncture can also be combined with other therapies to reduce the inflammatory effects associated with back pain.
How Does Electroacupuncture Reduce Gut Inflammation
Since electroacupuncture can reduce gut inflammation causing back pain, it can help regulate the intestinal flora by promoting intestinal motility and blocking the pain signals from affecting the back muscles. (An et al., 2022) This is because electroacupuncture can help relax the tense muscles causing back pain. Additionally, when people approach this treatment, it is under the guidance of highly trained acupuncturists who can insert the needles correctly while tailoring electroacupuncture therapy to the person’s specific needs and pain. Since electroacupuncture can be combined with other therapies, it can effectively reduce body weight and restore digestion and absorption to shape the gut microbiota. (Xia et al., 2022) This allows individuals to make small changes to their routine and prevent gut inflammation from affecting the body and causing back pain. They can improve their quality of life by incorporating electroacupuncture as part of their health and wellness treatment.
Unlocking The Secrets Of Inflammation-Video
References
An, J., Wang, L., Song, S., Tian, L., Liu, Q., Mei, M., Li, W., & Liu, S. (2022). Electroacupuncture reduces blood glucose by regulating intestinal flora in type 2 diabetic mice. J Diabetes, 14(10), 695-710. doi.org/10.1111/1753-0407.13323
Dekker Nitert, M., Mousa, A., Barrett, H. L., Naderpoor, N., & de Courten, B. (2020). Altered Gut Microbiota Composition Is Associated With Back Pain in Overweight and Obese Individuals. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 11, 605. doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00605
Ratna, H. V. K., Jeyaraman, M., Yadav, S., Jeyaraman, N., & Nallakumarasamy, A. (2023). Is Dysbiotic Gut the Cause of Low Back Pain? Cureus, 15(7), e42496. doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42496
Xia, X., Xie, Y., Gong, Y., Zhan, M., He, Y., Liang, X., Jin, Y., Yang, Y., & Ding, W. (2022). Electroacupuncture promoted intestinal defensins and rescued the dysbiotic cecal microbiota of high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Life Sci, 309, 120961. doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120961
Yang, Y., Pang, F., Zhou, M., Guo, X., Yang, Y., Qiu, W., Liao, C., Chen, Y., & Tang, C. (2024). Electroacupuncture Reduces Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Obese Mice by Activating the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathways and Repairing the Intestinal Barrier. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes, 17, 435-452. doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S449112
Yao, B., Cai, Y., Wang, W., Deng, J., Zhao, L., Han, Z., & Wan, L. (2023). The Effect of Gut Microbiota on the Progression of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Orthopaedic Surgery, 15(3), 858-867. doi.org/10.1111/os.13626
Can individuals dealing with gut inflammation find relief from acupuncture therapy to reduce associated pain symptoms like back pain?
Introduction
When many start thinking about their health and well-being, they will notice the various factors negatively affecting their daily routine. Environmental factors or traumatic injuries can cause an impact on the person’s body, which then causes musculoskeletal issues as well as organ issues. One of the pain-like issues that many people seem to deal with is gut inflammation, and it can cause a cascading effect on the body and lead to referred pain in the upper and lower body portions. This can affect a person’s daily routine and cause overlapping risk profiles, leading to musculoskeletal conditions like back pain. At the same time, gut inflammation can be in acute or chronic stages and become an issue for people with pre-existing conditions. Luckily, numerous treatments reduce gut inflammation associated with back pain and provide a positive impact on individuals. Today’s article looks at the effect of gut inflammation on the body, how gut inflammation correlates with back pain, and how acupuncture therapy can help reduce gut inflammation. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how gut inflammation is impacting their bodies and how it correlates with back pain. We also inform and guide patients on how acupuncture therapy can help reduce the inflammatory effects that are causing gut and back issues. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about how their pain is causing issues to their bodies. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Effects Of Gut Inflammation On The Body
Do you feel extremely tired in the morning, even after a full night? Have you experienced any soreness or tenderness in your gut or different back portions? Or do you experience any muscle aches or joint stiffness throughout your lower back? When people are experiencing these inflammatory issues, it could be due to their gut system feeling these pain-like issues. The gut system is in a relationship with the central nervous system as it is part of the gut-brain axis and helps the autonomic system actively influence the immune system. This allows the musculoskeletal system to promote normal body function. When environmental factors or traumatic injuries start to negatively affect the gut-brain axis and cause the immune system to mass produce inflammatory cytokines and cortisol to cause musculoskeletal and gut issues. The inflammatory effects of the gut system cause impairments within the intestinal barrier function and the translocation of the gut microbes and even promote the hyper-activation of the mucosal immune system to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that fuel gut inflammation. (Amoroso et al., 2020) When that happens, it can have a major impact on the immune system, and where the gut microbiota can be triggered by environmental factors like metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type-2 diabetes, which has detrimental consequences for the human body. (Scheithauer et al., 2020) What this does to the body is that gut inflammation can affect the immune system, vital organs, and the musculoskeletal system.
Gut Inflammation Correlates With Back Pain
So, back pain usually follows when many individuals have gut issues associated with environmental factors. When the intestinal permeability in the gut starts to deal with inflammation, all the bacteria and the cytokines from the immune system will rapidly produce and travel their way to the various muscles, tissues, and ligaments that start to be affected. Since back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition many people endure, gut inflammation can also be present. Since the bacterial microbes and inflammatory cytokines are reaching the spine’s back muscles and skeletal structures, they can start causing degenerative issues, leading to back pain. The skeletal structure of the spine has facet joints, spinal discs, and bones that protect the spinal cord and can also be affected by gut inflammation. The blood-disc barrier within the spine protects the spinal disc from inflammatory effects that may invoke musculoskeletal issues. However, when the bacterial microbes from the gut start to attach and break down the blood-disc barrier, they can rapidly multiply since the immune system surveillance is unavailable, causing low oxygen levels to degenerate the spinal discs and causing back pain issues. (Ratna et al., 2023) At the same time, environmental factors also play an issue in the development of back pain associated with gut inflammation. Luckily, numerous treatments can help not only reduce gut inflammation but also provide pain relief to back pain.
Fighting Inflammation Naturally- Video
Have you been dealing with various mood changes affecting your daily routine? Do you feel constantly sluggish or tired throughout the day? Or do you feel aches and pains in your mid-section and lower back? Many people experiencing these pain-like issues in their bodies are dealing with gut inflammation that is affecting their backs. When environmental factors start to cause an overproduction of bacterial microbes in the intestinal permeability, the inflammatory cytokines begin to induce inflammation in the musculoskeletal system. This can lead to the development of back pain and cause issues to the body when it is not treated right away. This is where various treatments help reduce the inflammatory effects of the gut system and help reduce numerous issues it has caused. Many treatments are non-surgical and customizable to individuals dealing with gut inflammation associated with back pain. The video above shows how non-surgical treatments can help reduce inflammation naturally and benefit many people dealing with gut inflammation.
Acupuncture Reducing Gut Inflammation
Various non-surgical treatments can range from traction therapy to chiropractic care, depending on the pain severity and environmental factors causing the issue. For gut inflammation, many individuals might try acupuncture, one of the oldest forms of non-surgical treatment that can help reduce inflammatory cytokines. Acupuncture originates from China and is used by highly trained medical professionals who use fine, solid, thin needles to be placed on various body acupoints to restore body energy. Acupuncture can also serve as a multifaceted regulatory therapy that involves multiple therapeutic mechanisms to regulate the HPA axis and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines levels. (Landgraaf et al., 2023) At the same time, acupuncture can help recover gastrointestinal dysfunction from various gut disorders by blocking the brain’s neuron signals that are causing inflammatory responses to the gut and musculoskeletal system. (Jang et al., 2020). Acupuncture can also be combined with other non-surgical therapies to help improve body functionality, as acupuncturists find the acupoints within the body to regulate the intestinal microbiota and inflammation, thus regulating the central nervous system function to enhance a person’s quality of life. (Bao et al., 2022) By incorporating acupuncture as part of a person’s health and well-being, many people can make small changes in their daily routine to reduce gut inflammation from overproducing and prevent their associated comorbidities from returning.
References
Amoroso, C., Perillo, F., Strati, F., Fantini, M. C., Caprioli, F., & Facciotti, F. (2020). The Role of Gut Microbiota Biomodulators on Mucosal Immunity and Intestinal Inflammation. Cells, 9(5). doi.org/10.3390/cells9051234
Bao, C., Wu, L., Wang, D., Chen, L., Jin, X., Shi, Y., Li, G., Zhang, J., Zeng, X., Chen, J., Liu, H., & Wu, H. (2022). Acupuncture improves the symptoms, intestinal microbiota, and inflammation of patients with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease: A randomized controlled trial. EClinicalMedicine, 45, 101300. doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101300
Jang, J. H., Yeom, M. J., Ahn, S., Oh, J. Y., Ji, S., Kim, T. H., & Park, H. J. (2020). Acupuncture inhibits neuroinflammation and gut microbial dysbiosis in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Brain Behav Immun, 89, 641-655. doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.08.015
Landgraaf, R. G., Bloem, M. N., Fumagalli, M., Benninga, M. A., de Lorijn, F., & Nieuwdorp, M. (2023). Acupuncture as multi-targeted therapy for the multifactorial disease obesity: a complex neuro-endocrine-immune interplay. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 14, 1236370. doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1236370
Ratna, H. V. K., Jeyaraman, M., Yadav, S., Jeyaraman, N., & Nallakumarasamy, A. (2023). Is Dysbiotic Gut the Cause of Low Back Pain? Cureus, 15(7), e42496. doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42496
Scheithauer, T. P. M., Rampanelli, E., Nieuwdorp, M., Vallance, B. A., Verchere, C. B., van Raalte, D. H., & Herrema, H. (2020). Gut Microbiota as a Trigger for Metabolic Inflammation in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. Front Immunol, 11, 571731. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.571731
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