Brochures

Lower Back Pain Treatment

Overview

More and more Western doctors are now considering acupuncture treatment to relieve both acute and chronic lower back pain. Most acupuncturists here in the United States use a combination of acupuncture, massage, Chinese herbs (either internally administered or applied topically), Chinese diet therapy, and various types of Chinese exercise therapy. Any one of these forms of treatment can significantly improve, and often help manage, lower back pain.

In Summary

Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints. It accounts for millions of lost hours from work and even more spent on treatment and medication. It can either be acute (such as an acute lumbar sprain) or chronic (such as degenerative disc disease), and can range from mildly annoying to physically and emotionally debilitating.

Research on Acupuncture for Low Back Pain

In 2017, the American College of Physicians (ACP) published a clinical practice guideline recommending that patients with chronic low back pain try non-drug approaches — including acupuncture, exercise, and multidisciplinary rehabilitation — before turning to medication. The guideline was based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and found moderate-quality evidence that acupuncture improves pain, with effects on function ranging from none to moderate depending on what it was compared against.

More recently, a 2025 study led by Kaiser Permanente researchers and funded by the National Institutes of Health found that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for older adults with persistent (chronic) low back pain — one of the more rigorous trials of its kind in this age group.

How We Treat Low Back Pain at Dragon Phoenix

At Dragon Phoenix Acupuncture, treatment for lower back pain typically combines acupuncture with Tuina massage, moxibustion or cupping, and Chinese herbal support as needed, addressing both acute flare-ups (such as an acute lumbar sprain) and chronic conditions like degenerative disc disease or sciatica.

What to Expect

Treatment length depends on whether the pain is acute or chronic. Acute lumbar sprains often respond within a handful of sessions, while chronic conditions typically call for a longer course of 10–15 treatments, followed by maintenance visits as needed.

Sources: American College of Physicians, 2017 Clinical Practice Guideline (Annals of Internal Medicine); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute / National Institutes of Health, 2025.