Chronic Low Back Pain

Clinical studies on acupuncture for chronic lower back pain generally define a treatment course as 1 to 2 sessions per week, totaling 8 to 12 sessions; cumulative effects are well observed at this frequency. If the treatment intervals are too wide, the effects do not accumulate, but once the pain stabilizes, the effectiveness is maintained even if the intervals are extended. For office workers, it is realistic to schedule two appointments per week for the first four weeks and then switch to once a week; furthermore, self-exercising on non-treatment days is the best way to reduce the frequency of outpatient visits. From a Korean medicine perspective, the frequency of treatment varies depending on the differential diagnosis. If the condition is primarily characterized by Qi stagnation and blood stasis, it is important to frequently facilitate circulation and open the flow in the early stages. However, if the underlying condition is kidney deficiency, the time spent replenishing the body with herbal medicine is more critical than the frequency of external treatments, resulting in a relatively lower burden of outpatient visits. Dongjedang designs the schedule by assessing this balance through ultrasound and differential diagnosis during the initial consultation. External treatments begin with acupuncture and apply moxibustion, thread embedding, and pharmacopuncture in stages as needed. By utilizing procedures like thread embedding, which provide effects lasting for several weeks, even busy office workers can maintain treatment continuity while extending the intervals between visits. Once pain is relieved, we transition to a management phase centered on herbal medicine to clear blood stasis and dampness and correct the constitution, operating with a structure that reduces hospital visits while preventing recurrence.