Whiplash Injury

The standard treatment for whiplash injuries is pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and early exercise, but 20 to 40 percent of patients follow a chronic course where pain persists for more than three months. This is because medication only reduces pain and inflammation; it does not promote the recovery of the damaged ligaments or joint capsules themselves. Mechanisms of acupuncture treatment have been reported to include increased local blood flow, muscle tension relief, and activation of the descending pain suppression system. Additionally, domestic clinical studies have shown significant improvements in pain and function when combined with Korean medicine treatments in patients injured in traffic accidents. From a Korean medicine perspective, a condition that remains unchanged for a month is viewed as having progressed to a stage where muscles and meridians harden, blocking the flow of Qi and blood, while initial stagnant blood has not yet dissolved. Based on the principle that blockage causes pain, treatment to actively unblock these obstacles is necessary at this stage. At Dongjedang, we perform ultrasound-guided, stepwise external treatments. After assessing the response to acupuncture, if hardened adhesions are palpable, we separate them and strengthen ligaments using needle acupuncture. For tissues with slow recovery, we promote regeneration using fire acupuncture and thread embedding. During the inflammatory stage, we add anti-inflammatory effects using bee venom acupuncture and pharmacopuncture. At the same time, through internal treatment that flushes out stagnant dead blood and waste products accumulated after an accident, we create an environment for the entire body to recover, helping patients whose progress stalled with localized treatments to get back on track.