Dr. Riley Smith

Acupuncture for Low Back Pain

“Your gut and your hormones aren’t two separate problems. They’re one conversation – and most women have never been shown how to listen to it.”


– DR. RILEY SMITH

 

Its probably no surprise that 80% of all people will experience severe low back pain at some point in their lives.  Conventional medical treatment is costly and often times ineffective.  Thousands of studies have shown how acupuncture can treat and often alleviate both chronic and acute low back pain.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a medical system that dates back nearly 3,000 years. But despite its age, TCM has a lot of validity to offer in the age of modern medicine. Thousands of studies have proven acupuncture, just one of the modalities used in TCM, can be very beneficial in the treatment of low back pain. Here are five reasons why someone should consider getting acupuncture to treat low back pain.

No Negative side effects

When compared to Western care for low back pain TCM comes out the winner.  Western medicine, while there is a time and place, has medications with extremely harmful and even addictive medications.  Surgery if often unsuccessful and with possible permanent negative side effects.  Not to mention the huge cost.

Even regular ibuprofen can create ulcers and Tylenol is extremely damaging to the liver.

Chinese Medicine is Boutique, Personal Healthcare

Each patient is treated as a separate case.  Its not a one size fits all.  While 2 patients may have similar pain or complaints there can be as many as 20 different causes and treatments when viewed through the lens of Chinese Medicine.  This makes our medicine uniquely powerful and developing the appropriate treatment for each patient.

Acupuncture for inflammation Reduction

Back pain rarely occurs on its own.  Systemic inflammation is often found in tandem with low back pain.  Acupuncture is a proven method to trigger the body to release its own natural anti inflammatory hormones.  The good news is the results keep going after treatment and build upon each other with consecutive appointments.

Acupuncture for Better sleep

Poor sleep is a common complaint for those with low back pain.  In the same way anti inflammatory chemicals are released, so are chemicals present when the body is at rest and asleep.  Acupuncture is the perfect way to kick start that process and create deep relaxation.

Get your life back

Acupuncture is rarely a one-time fix.  Repeated treatments build a foundation of wellness and add exponentially to one another. Bottom line, the more the better. I treat so much low back pain in my Banker’s Hill office.  From too much time stuck in traffic, to surfing and to taking a spill after too many craft beers in North Park (ha ha) Ive seen it all!  Please reach out to me if you have questions and how I can help.

The short version

This is where the article opens up the idea behind the pull quote – written in your voice, root cause first, in language that makes sense to someone who has been told everything looks fine.

How these systems actually connect

showing the bold inline lead-in pattern from the reference:

Your gut. A short demo sentence on the role the gut plays.

Your hormones. A short demo sentence on how the two move together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can gut issues really affect my hormones?

A large share of hormone processing and clearance happens in the gut, so when digestion is under strain, hormone balance often follows.

Why do my labs come back normal when I still don't feel right?

Standard panels are built to flag disease, not the early-pattern shifts that leave you depleted. Reading several systems together is where the answer usually shows up.

Here Are Some Ways I Can Support You

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE & LABWORK

When your labs come back "normal" but you don't feel it, I run the testing conventional care skips and read how your systems relate.
See how the labwork works →

ONE-ON-ONE COACHING

Burnout to Balance®- the 5R Burnout Recovery MethodTM, built around your biology to restore the capacity you've been running without.
Start here →

JOIN THE NEXT SEASONAL CHALLENGE

Get on the waitlist for our next seasonal challenge!
Join the waitlist →

Want to hear it? Listen to the podcast →
More of a visual learner? Watch on YouTube →

Dr. Riley Smith, LAc · DACM · DiplOM

Find Your Best First Step

Seven quick questions. I'll match you with the care that actually fits what you're dealing with — no guessing required.

Start

Before we begin

Tell us where to send your results

Question 1

Where are you located?

Acupuncture is available in-person at our San Diego clinic only. All other services are fully virtual.

Question 2

What best describes what you're dealing with?

Pick the option that feels most like your primary concern right now.

Question 3

How long have you been dealing with this?

Question 4

What kind of support resonates most right now?

Go with your gut — there's no wrong answer here.

Question 5

How urgently do you need support?

Question 6

How do you feel about working with a provider virtually?

Coaching and lab services are 100% virtual. Acupuncture is in-person only.

Question 7

What level of investment feels realistic right now?

This helps match you to the right entry point — not a commitment.