natural treatment of back pain in conventional medicine

Conventional medicine and natural medicine in the treatment of back pain

Back pain means for patients in addition to the physical suffering and impaired quality of life and often disability. The "Munich natural treatment of pain intensive program - back" (MNS-R), the interdisciplinary pain clinic at the Hospital of the University of Munich (LMU) - developed a program that in addition to the traditional medical pain relief and natural treatments and - in cooperation with the Siemens Health Insurance (SBK) methods of traditional Chinese medicine uses.

To assess the risk and the degree of chronic disease individually, can be affected examined before participating in the program by an interdisciplinary team. These include specialized doctors of anesthesia and physical medicine and rehabilitation and skilled personnel for physical therapy, pain psychology and nursing. Depending on the diagnosis and patients may wish to put together individually based treatment recommendation from colleagues or therapists or established in the outpatient clinic of the University of Munich can be performed (eg physiotherapy, optimization of drug therapy, pain, nerve blocks, acupuncture, etc.).

Active involvement of patients

For patients in whom single therapies promise of scientific findings adequate pain relief, a multimodal pain program is offered. This is based on the already successful for ten years employed in the pain clinic in Munich natural treatment of pain program (MNS), which was developed as a four-week group program in accordance with quality criteria for multimodal pain therapy. It combines conventional medical knowledge with selected western classical natural treatments and traditional Chinese medicine. "Our concept is based on resources that the patient motivation, cognition, positive body awareness and activity are an essential part of pain management," explains project leader Dr. Miriam Schopper.

"A superficial passive pain therapy is given its proven low effectiveness and recommend not to the poor cost-benefit ratio."

In the new back pain project MNS-R will now be first offered, depending on the degree of pain intensity and existing risk factors for chronic back pain three different types of multimodal back program MNS-R: The four-week intensive program (120 hours), the Power Prevention Program (60 hours in 2 weeks) and the part-time program (30 hours in 4 weeks).

New standard therapy for back pain

The program is supported scientifically. Be evaluated intensity, functional ability, quality of life, stress management, life satisfaction, disability days, and cost-effectiveness. Thus, the FTI of the SBK on both scientific as well as innovative aspects.

"In the case of a successful course of the project, the risk-adapted, multi-modal natural treatment plan to establish a standard for patients with back pain, when both the ability to work straight maintained or restored is" hopes private lecturer Dr. Dominik Irnich, director of the pain clinic at the campus center. "In addition to the improved quality of life and health economic and socio-medical costs are reduced."

education in natural treatment for medical doctors

natural treatment: Part-time academic skills development for doctors

The specially developed for physicians master's degree program "natural treatment and complementary medicine" begins in September for the second time this German-speaking unique course builds on the existing medical skills and allows specialization in focus in natural treatment and complementary medicine. In order to apply the acquired knowledge directly into the daily practice of outpatient or inpatient work, the four-semester course was developed while working. At the same time it is in the common case conferences for intensive collegial exchange.

In addition to academic work, students learn the practical implementation of classical natural treatment and complementary-medical methods such as excretion and fasting therapies, herbal medicine, TCM / acupuncture. The focus of Neural example, different injection techniques of neural therapy are taught. The regular high proportion of self-discovery with daily applications of water, exercise and relaxation techniques, helps to understand the mode of action of each process and to better evaluate. Taught the course by internationally known and experienced doctors and scientists led by Professor Dr. Peter W. Gündling.

The highlight of each week attendance periods, which take place about four times per year, field trips. To ensure a high proportion of small group work, the number of participants of the master program is limited, but there are for the coming winter semester still places available.

In contrast to continuing education seminars and courses, such as those offered to purchase one additional term, this development is an academic study that leads to a workable title "Master of Science" (M.Sc.).

natural treatment with Chinese herbs

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries. The first herbalist in Chinese tradition is Shennong, a mythical personage, who had tasted hundreds of herbs as declared and shares his knowledge of the medicinal and poisonous plants to rural people. The first Chinese manual on pharmacology, the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong Emperor Classic of Materia Medica), lists some 365 medicines, among which 252 are herbs and goes back to the early Han Dynasty (202 BC). Since then, many empirical natural treatment formulas had been archived by the ancient Chinese. The most important work in which was the Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu), which was built during the Ming dynasty by Li Shizhen compiled and is still used as guidance and reference.

natural treatments are traditionally one of the most important modalities that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Any natural treatment is a cocktail of many herbs that are manufactured for individual patients. The practitioner designs a tool with one or two main ingredients that target their effects on the disease. Then the practitioner adds other ingredients to the formula to adjust the Yin Yang conditions of the patient accordingly. Sometimes, ingredients are needed to remove the toxicity or side effects of the main ingredients. Some herbs require the use of other natural ingredients as catalyst or else they would be ineffective. The final steps require a lot of experience and knowledge and distinguish a good Chinese natural doctor by an amateur. Unlike western medications, the balance and interaction of all the ingredients are considered more important than the effect of individual ingredients.

TCM natural treatment often contains ingredients from all parts of the plant, the leaf, stem, flower, root, and also includes ingredients from animals and minerals with one. Many natural manufacturers have adjusted the use of all parts of endangered animals. Chinese doctors use several methods to classify traditional Chinese herbs: four natures and five flavors and meridians.

The herbs can according to their yin yang properties into four categories (the four natures) are classified by cold (the extreme yin), cool, neutral, and warm to hot (the extreme yang). The internal balance of yin and yang of the patients is taken into account when the herbs are selected. E.g. are medicinal herbs of "hot", yang nature used when the person is suffering from internal cold that needs to be cleaned, or if the patient has a common cold body constitution. Sometimes an ingredient is added to enable the extreme effect of one herb.

Based on the theory of five elements, herbs in five categories (the five tastes) are classified. The five tastes are pungent, sweet, sour, bitter and salty, each of which identifies their functions and properties. E.g. pungent herbs are used to generate sweat and to lead the qi and blood, and to revitalize. Sweet herbs often harmonize bodily systems. Some herbs taste mildly sweet and help the moisture flow through diuresis. Sour taste is often hemostatic, while bitter taste dissipated heat, cleans the bowels and moisture removed by drying them. Salty herbs soften hard masses as well as clean up and open the bowels.

Meridians are invisible channels or pathways through which qi flows and forms an energy network that connects all parts of the body. There are twelve main meridians in our body. Each is related to a specific organ system. Herbs can also be classified according to the meridians and organs that are affected by the herbs themselves. E.g. menthol is pungent, cool and connected to the lungs and liver. Since the lung is the organ that protects the body against invasion of cold and flu, menthol can help to promote cold in the lungs and suppress heat toxins, which are caused by hot "wind".

Detailed information will follow soon