Healing Fractures with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Can Speed Up the Healing of Broken Bones
Breaking a bone is painful and disruptive, often limiting daily activities and mobility. While Western medicine focuses on immobilizing the bone to facilitate natural healing, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offer additional support to speed up recovery, reduce pain, and promote overall healing. In TCM, broken bones are seen as an injury to both the bone and surrounding tissue, with blood and qi stagnation often contributing to the pain and slow healing process. By addressing these imbalances, acupuncture, herbs, and other Chinese medicine approaches can be beneficial for recovery.
In this blog post, we’ll cover how TCM views bone healing, key acupuncture points for recovery, TCM patterns and herbal formulas that can aid the process, and tips for speeding up your recovery.
How Chinese Medicine Understands Bone Healing
In TCM, bone health is closely related to the Kidney system, as the Kidneys are believed to “govern the bones” and contribute to the production of bone marrow. Trauma to a bone can disrupt the flow of qi and blood, which can result in local stagnation that prolongs pain and inflammation. This disruption not only affects the bone tissue itself but also impacts surrounding muscles, tendons, and nerves. Additionally, weakness in the Kidney energy, or “Kidney essence,” can slow down the regeneration of bone tissue, making recovery more challenging.
The treatment principles for fractures focus on restoring Qi and blood flow, strengthening the bones, and alleviating pain, which encourages efficient and thorough recovery. Herbal formulas that support blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the Kidneys and Liver are also used, as these organs are integral to bone and tendon health.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Fracture Healing
1. Reducing Pain and Inflammation
Acupuncture stimulates the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals, such as endorphins, in the body. It also helps reduce inflammation at the fracture site by modulating inflammatory markers, which supports pain relief and comfort without the side effects of medication.
2. Improving Blood Circulation
Blood flow is essential for bone healing, as it transports vital nutrients, oxygen, and immune cells to the fracture site. Acupuncture has been shown to increase circulation around injured areas, which accelerates the repair process and prevents complications like muscle atrophy or stiffness. Key acupuncture points are selected based on the injury’s location to ensure that blood flow is targeted where it is needed most.
3. Encouraging Cellular Repair and Bone Strengthening
Certain acupuncture points stimulate the body’s healing response, promoting the generation of new bone cells and connective tissue. Treatments are often tailored to encourage bone knitting, which is especially beneficial during the early stages of fracture healing. In later stages, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine work to fortify bone strength and prevent secondary injuries.
4. Promoting Relaxation and Reducing Stress
Healing from a fracture can be mentally and emotionally taxing, particularly when prolonged immobility and discomfort are involved. Acupuncture not only eases physical pain but also helps manage the emotional impact of injury, reducing stress, improving sleep, and aiding overall mental resilience throughout recovery. Reducing stress is especially essential after a fracture as excessive cortisol can promote osteoclast activity, the cells that breakdown bones.
TCM Patterns for Bone Healing
Several TCM patterns commonly present with broken bones, and each requires a slightly different approach:
Qi and Blood Stagnation
This is a typical pattern in any traumatic injury. Qi and blood are blocked at the injury site, leading to pain, swelling, and limited movement. Treatment aims to unblock these stagnations and promote circulation to the affected area.
Kidney Deficiency
Since the Kidneys govern the bones, deficiencies in Kidney energy can slow down bone regrowth and healing. Supporting Kidney energy is essential for bone recovery, especially for older individuals or those with chronic conditions that weaken the Kidneys.
Blood Deficiency
A deficiency in blood can result in slower healing and regeneration of tissue around the bone. Treatment focuses on nourishing the blood to aid in recovery and prevent delayed healing.
Key Acupuncture Points for Fracture Healing
Acupuncture points can be tailored to the specific needs of each patient based on where the fracture is located, but certain points are commonly used to support bone healing, reduce inflammation, and improve qi and blood flow:
Stomach 36 (ST36, Zusanli)
Known for boosting overall qi and blood circulation, ST36 can help with general recovery and energy.
Gallbladder 39 (GB39, Xuanzhong)
The "Influential Point of Marrow," GB39 is traditionally used to strengthen the bones and nourish the bone marrow, making it a key point for healing fractures.
Urinary Bladder 11 (UB11, Dashu)
This point is often used to support bone health and nourish the blood.
Spleen 10 (SP10, Xuehai)
SP10 is effective for moving blood and reducing stagnation, particularly useful if there is significant bruising or swelling around the injury.
Kidney 3 (KI3, Taixi)
Strengthens the Kidney energy, which is crucial for bone healing.
Large Intestine 4 (LI4, Hegu) and Liver 3 (LV3, Taichong)
Known together as the "Four Gates," these points move qi and relieve pain, reducing inflammation and aiding circulation to the affected area.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Bone Healing
Chinese herbal medicine complements acupuncture by nourishing the blood, supporting tissue repair, and reducing inflammation. Herbal formulas are selected based on the individual’s specific needs and the stage of healing:
Stage 1: Inflammatory Phase: Reducing Pain and Swelling
In the acute stage, trauma herbal formulas using herbs like San Qi, Ru Xiang (Frankinsense) and Mo Yao (Myrrh) are commonly used to ease pain, minimize swelling, and disperse blood stagnation.
Stage 2: Repairative Stage: Promoting Tissue Regeneration
As the fracture begins to heal, herbal formulas that both invigorate blood and promote new tissue growth, using herbs like Gu Sui Bu (Drynaria), Du Zhong (Eucommia ) are introduced. These herbs are especially prized in Chinese medicine for its ability to strengthen bones.
Stage 3: Remodeling Stage: Strengthening and Rebuilding Bone
During the later stages, formulas such as You Gui Wan helps nourish the kidneys, which are associated with bone health in Chinese medicine. Strengthening the kidneys and bones helps with long term prevent future fractures and strengthens the bone.
Bone-Building TCM Nutritional Tips
Diet plays an essential role in bone recovery, and Chinese dietary therapy emphasizes certain foods to nourish bones and support fracture healing:
Bone Broth:
Rich in collagen, amino acids, and minerals, bone broth nourishes connective tissue and promotes healing.
Dark Leafy Greens:
Foods like spinach, kale, and bok choy provide calcium and magnesium and vitamin k, all vital for bone strength.
Walnuts and Sesame Seeds:
These foods are considered beneficial for kidney energy, and are high in calcium and magesium and several other essential trace minerals vital to bone health
Protein-Rich Foods:
High-quality proteins, such as chicken, lamb, fish, eggs, collagen and legumes, are essential for tissue repair and bone regeneration.
Lifestyle Recommendations for Bone Healing
Sleep and Rest:
Adequate rest is critical, as much of the body’s healing occurs during deep sleep.
Managing Stress:
High-stress levels can hinder recovery by promoting osteoclast activity, so practices like meditation, breathing exercises, and regular acupuncture can help manage stress effectively.
Daily Sunlight:
Adequate amounts of vitamin D are essential for bone health. Getting vitamin D levels checked is and supplementing if levels are low.
Integrating Acupuncture with Conventional Care for Bone healing
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work beautifully alongside conventional fracture treatments. By reducing recovery time, minimizing pain, and supporting the body’s natural healing processes, Chinese medicine provides a well-rounded approach to fracture healing. If you’re recovering from a fracture or bone injury, consider incorporating acupuncture and Chinese medicine into your healing plan. Our clinic is here to support you on your journey to a complete and resilient recovery. If you’re curious about how acupuncture can help your fracture healing and you live in the West Hollywood or Los Angelea area, reach out to us and schedule a consultation.