Methods:
8-session relaxation acupoint stimulation with electrodes followed by acupressure with lavender oil for 35–40 min each time, over a 3-week period (Yip and Tse, 2004).
Protocol:
- On arrival, patients were asked to empty their bladder.
- Patients sit and relax for 5–10 min., with a digital Electronic Muscle Stimulator under a “soothing mode” (7.69 Hz at 0.05 mA).
- Place 5 pairs of medium sized (2.5 cm) electrode pads on 5 bilateral acupoints: Shousanli (LI10), Quchi (LI11), Naoshu (SI10), Tianliao (TW15) and Tianzhu (BL10).
- Acupressure massage using a light to medium finger press with 3% aromatic natural lavender oil with grape seed oil as the base on 8 fixed acupoints (4 bilateral points) for 2 min each: Sanjiaoshu (UB22), Shenshu (UB23), Dachangshu (UB25) and Weizhong (UB40).
- The acupressure effect (Deqi) was confirmed based on the patient’s feeling of sore, numb, heavy, distended, and/or warm.
- The applied pressure is decided based on feedback from the patient: the point before they had unpleasant and unbearable feelings.
Clinical trial records:
Patients with sub-acute or chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP).
Evaluation:
Changes from baseline to the end of treatment were evaluated in pain intensity by
- Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and duration.
- Lateral fingertip-to-ground distance in centimeters.
- Walking time and interference on daily activities.
Control:
Usual care only.
Comparisons:
One week after the end of treatment, compared with the control group, the acupressure group had
- 39% greater reduction in VAS pain intensity.
- Better walking time.
- Improved lateral spine flexion range.
- No adverse effects were reported.
Effects:
- Acupoint stimulation followed by acupressure with aromatic lavender oil was an effective method for short-term LBP relief.
- The combination therapy of acupoint stimulation and acupressure with aromatic lavender oil may complement mainstream medical treatment for sub-acute LBP.
Reference and data source:
Yip, Y. B. and Tse, S. H. (2004) The effectiveness of relaxation acupoint stimulation and acupressure with aromatic lavender essential oil for non-specific low back pain in Hong Kong: a randomised controlled trial. Complement Ther Med 12, 28-37.
