Lower back pain is a very prevalent condition. People are tired of popping pain killers and using balms. It has limited utility.
Acupressure promises to solve the problem rather simply and effectively. It can be self-administered and has no harmful side effects.
The back is a very prominent and significant part of the body, which holds various components like the neck, shoulder, legs, and torso together. The structural strength and shape are because of the spinal cord. Big muscles, like the trapezius and latissimus dorsi, contribute to the strength of the back.
A strong back supports the other parts of the body, and the form and structure of the body are maintained.
According to the division of the spinal cord, the back has the following parts:
- Cervical (the neck region)
- Thoracic (upper back)
- Lumbar (lower back)
- Sacral (lower back to hip region)
The lumbar section of the spine and the back is engaged in many movements like bending, twisting, movement of the hip, legs. Many people suffer from pain in the lower back for reasons ranging from:
- Sciatica
- Slip disc
- Arthritis
- Muscular pain
- Medical conditions/disorders
Medications do help, and many patients resort to it, to find relief from pain. However, acupressure offers a safer and possibly long-term pain relief therapy.
7 pressure points for lower back pain
He-Gu
This is a very prominent pressure point to manage any kind of a pain in the body. Therefore for the lower back pain, stimulation of He-Gu is the first point.
Hold your palm facing down. Put all the fingers together. You will notice a line emerging from in between the thumb and the forefinger. Trace this line till the end. The point where the line ends, lying on the puffed-up skin, is the He gu.
Press this point with the thumb and forefinger for close to a minute, release it for about 10 seconds and repeat the whole process for about five times. Repeat with the other hand, also.
It will manage pain for all causes of discomfort in the lower back.
Shen Shu
Pressure point UB 23. It is known as the Shen Shu Point. The stimulation of this point very effectively manages the pain in the lower back (lumbar region). It helps in all kinds of pain.
It may take a little effort to locate the point. But that effort is worth considering the benefits. It is located midway between the lowest rib and the hip bone, two-finger width away from the spine. Also, it is seated on the muscle, adjoining the spine, the thumb should stimulate it.
Push the thumb with great force here on this point and stimulate it by rotating the thumb over the location. Do this for about a minute. Rotate in another direction, also for a minute. Remember to stimulate both the points about the spine.
Shen Shu is very popular for relieving sciatica pain. It eases the muscle fatigue as well. But it works well on any other kind of pain of the lower back.
Wei Zhong
Pressure point UB 40: The Wei-Zhong located at the back of the knee joint, right in the center of the pit.
Sit on a chair with your leg stretched a bit. Hold the kneecap with your fingers and dig the thumb into the pit behind the knee cap. Exert with a reasonable force and hold it for about 30 seconds, release it for 10 seconds.
Repeat the press-release technique for about 5-7 times. Repeat with the other leg also. The reason why it is also called the Lumbar command point is, it can manage all kinds of pain in the lumbar (lower back) region.
Stimulate Wei-Zhong for sciatica pain relief.
UB 62
The location of this pressure point is on the leg just below the ankle on the outer side of the leg. A little below and at the back, it is located above the heel.
Press this point hard with thumb for about a minute. And then release it for a count of 10 – 15. Do this press- release exercise about 4 – 5 times. Do the same with the other foot.
It alleviates pain in the lower back.
GB 30
Its location is on the fleshy part of the buttock. From the tip of the highest point of buttock, move 1/3rd distance towards the waistline. That is the location of GB 30.
This point is a bit challenging to stimulate. With a reasonable force, push your thumb into the pressure point and hold it there for around a minute. Release the pressure for some moments and apply strength again. Keep doing this for about 3 -4 minutes.
Stimulate the GB 30 on both the buttocks. They relieve lower back pain and also a pain in the sacral area of the lower body.
Lower back reflexology point on the hand
- Hold up your left hand, with the palm facing outward.
- Fold your thumb into the palm to hide it.
- Now you have four fingers in front of you.
- Pair them together. Hold forefinger and middle finger in one and ring finger and pinky in the second.
- Move the two pairs apart to form a prominent ‘V’ in the center.
- The web between the middle and the ring finger is the representation of the sacral area of your back.
- From the web up to a little above the ankle is the lumbar region.
- Keep pinching with thumb and forefinger of the right hand, moving up the web towards the knuckle. Go a little beyond the knuckle. Retrace back. Repeat to and fro motion for about 5 – 6 times.
- You have stimulated the reflexology point of the lower back. Any pain there should subside or at least reduce.
- Do it on the other hand as well.
Kidney point
In acupressure and reflexology, healthy bones are a result of a healthy kidney. Hence it is essential that along with the pain points, the kidney also needs attention. Stimulation of this point strengthens the kidney.
Since most of the pain in the lower back is concerned with bones, this point also needs attention.
On the back of the palm Is the location of the kidney pressure point. Trace the line between the pinky finger and the ring finger just three finger width short of the wrist crease. Find a small depression there. That is the kidney point. Stimulate this point by press- release technique.
It keeps the kidney healthy and bone healthy.
All the pressure point techniques are straightforward to execute, and the most significant advantage is reduced medication. Lower back pain is widespread. Most of the time, it is not very serious but highly irritating and disturbing.
Simple acupressure therapy can keep life on a roll.