One of the most common ailments that brings a new patient to my office is sciatic pain. Master Tung acupuncture points for sciatic pain give me amazing results. And I give my thanks to Dr. Richard Tan for first introducing them to me. The primary points used for sciatic regardless of the meridian(s) effected on the leg are Linggu and Dabai. These two points are located on the Large Intestine channel.
The points are needled on the hand opposite to the sciatic pain. Linggu is needled first. It is located proximal to LI4 anterior to the border of the junction between the first and second metacarpal bones. Dabai is located at LI3, but needled closer to the bone.
Being located on the yangming meridian, rich in qi and blood, these points have a very powerful effect to regulate qi and blood. These two points are used in Master Tung’s acupuncture system for many conditions, but they are almost indispensable in my practice to treat opposite lumbar pain and sciatica.
Once these points are inserted, the patient tells me which meridians on the leg are affected. If the pain shoots down the back of the leg, effecting the Bladder, or taiyang channel, I often add points SI3 and SI4 on the hand with Linggu and Dabai and point BL65 on the affected leg as a guiding point to create a therapeutic energetic loop. If the pain shoots down the side of the leg, affecting the Gallbladder, or shaoyang meridian, I add SJ5 and SJ6 on the hand with Linggu and Dabai and point GB41 as a guide on the affected leg. If the pain travels to the groin and down the medial aspect of the leg, LV3 can be used as a guide.
While the needles are in place, I have the patient move the affected leg for a few minutes. Master Tung often used distal points on the healthy side of the body with a guiding point on the diseased side of the body. Moving the affected part of the body, guides the qi to the diseased area. Pain relief is almost instantaneous. I love this approach. There is no need to insert a needle into the painful part of the body. There is no need for the patient to disrobe. And the results are amazing.
The only time I do NOT use this approach is during pregnancy. Linggu, being so close to LI4, is contraindiciated during pregnancy.
If you are an acupuncturist looking for a new approach to treating sciatic pain, try this protocol and let me know your results! You’ll definitely want to learn more about Master Tung’s acupuncture points.
About the Author:
Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist that provides acupuncture therapy in New Hartford, NY. She writes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.
