Sciatica. Tingling, burning, numbness down the leg. Sometimes sharp pains or weakness in the hip or back… Not fun. What IS sciatica, really? Most people would say it’s a “pinched nerve.” The sciatic nerve branches out from your lower back. Lumbar discs 4, 5, and the sacrum all have sciatic nerve roots. The sciatic…
Most back pain involves one or more of these meridians: Bladder (leg Tai Yang), the “extra” Belt (Dai) Vessel, and the Gall Bladder (leg Shao Yang). Not that there is anything wrong with those organs! It’s just the name of the location according to TCM. Acupuncture works by bringing more circulation to those areas. At home, between acupuncture…
I have to be 100% honest with you. I do some crazy stuff – hanging upside down from my knee; doing tango in heels for 3 hours; or carrying a 45-pound dog home because he refuses to stop lunging at the neighbor’s poodle – that aren’t necessarily healthy for me. Many of our daily activities can leave…
I trained in martial arts for 10 years. At one point in time, I did a black belt test that included a 15-minute horse stance. Looking back, I still can’t believe I did that. I mean, why? What’s the point? Kidding. It was a lesson in perseverance. And strength. You don’t have to be a…
Why is it so common to have pain that’s worse on one side of the back, hip, or leg (including the knee, ankle, or foot? Or sciatica?) Injury to that side is a possibility. Repetitive movements that are uneven, like mousing or writing, is another. Very few people are ambidextrous, so no surprise that many…