We have encountered many extreme acute chronic conditions among the homeless population that we’ve treated. The most common involve pain due to trauma or metabolic imbalance. Naturally enough, other common conditions perhaps just as prevalent are depression, anxiety and manic, bipolar disturbance.

Rheumatic and arthritic conditions are described in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Bi Zheng disease which includes a wide variety of back and joint pains. While diet and herbal therapy provide nutrients and healing at a deep level and ultimately provide the most lasting results, various physical therapies such as needling, bleeding, scraping, cupping, moxibustion and medicated oil massage  offer the most immediate relief.

This case was that of a homeless man, who had several laminectomies and possibly a disk fusion over a portion of his lower back in the area of L3 to L5. This man appeared to be in his late 30s and claimed to suffer from acute, disabling back pain for over 14 years. Laminectomy is a surgical procedure that removes a portion of the vertebral bone, called lamina. The muscles are pushed aside without cutting with the intention of leaving parts of the lamina intact. Disk fusions are performed when there is a problem with the disc space between the vertebrae causing painful pressure on the adjacent nerves.

I was not sure which of these or perhaps both procedures were performed on this man but it was obvious that he had at least three surgeries all in approximately the same area. Unfortunately he had no pain relief and more than likely a severe exacerbation of pain.

The man was married to a woman who loved and cared for him as best she could. Both lived on a small monthly disability and had temporary residence at the Santa Cruz Homeless Shelter. This is one of many cases where an individual suffering from such incapacitating health problems had little hope of being able to hold a job and better their living standard.

This man was taking and probably hooked on several severely addicting pain killers including oxycodone. Still, the pain throughout his body, especially his back, was constant and excruciating. He could barely move, let alone get on the table where we might try to relieve some of his suffering. With the assistance of three of us we finally got him lying face down. He was moaning and crying with every more. I palpated different areas of his back to determine where the pain was most severe and where the inflammation and blockage emanated. Again, he exhibited great sensitivity to pressure point palpitation.

I decided to use the most powerful method to relieve such conditions that I know: bleeding and cupping. Both are traditional ancient methods employed in many traditional cultures including Traditional Chinese Medicine dating back thousands of years.

Many people don’t realize that before the invention of small stainless steel needles, small sharp stones were used to extract a small amount of blood from precise areas of the body. Cupping used by creating a vacuum in a small cup applied to suck the skin and blood to the surface is used in diverse cultures ranging from throughout Asia, Greek and Central America. These were formerly considered folk traditions and are now part of the practice employed by some acupuncturists around the world.

I used small sterile diabetic needles, beginning with two points behind the knees called Weizhong or Bladder 40. These points treat lumbar pain and spasm of the lower back and extremities. They are powerfully anti-inflammatory and relieve pain. Translation of the name “weizhong” means “support the middle” because they also treat abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. They are the most effective points for treating all lower back pains and for severe cases, they are most effective if they are caused to bleed. You may wonder if this was painful to this man. In fact his pain was so severe that he didn’t feel any of the quick tiny pricks which I then proceeded to do at particularly sensitive areas through his entire back, each time applying a cup and drawing out anywhere from a half to a teaspoon full of blood from each point.

After applying wan hua oil to the region, a special medicated oil to relieve pain and promote blood circulation, removing the blockage causing pain in the area, I pricked the two most painful areas near the areas where the surgery scars were evident and then applied two cups.

After 15 to 20 minutes I removed the cups, carefully wiping off the coagulated blood on the skin and inside each cup using as sterile measure as were available under the circumstances. This man’s pain was so severe, I considered this an emergency procedure. After removing the cups I lathered Ayurvedic Mahanarayana oil, the most powerful of all rejuvenative, anti-inflammatory and healing oils the world has ever known. “With a sesame seed oil base, this massage oil has some widely known homeopathic constituents like clove, camphor, turmeric, cow’s milk, cedar bark, sandalwood, ginger and licorice. It also contains several historic Ayurvedic herbal tinctures known primarily in India, such as the herb blend dashmula, an asparagus extract called shatavari, the country mallow plant known as bala, and a mild sedative called tagar,” (http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-mahanarayan-oil.htm)  and these are about half of the total ingredients. This oil is available online. I use so much of it in my practice that I purchase a gallon at a time from Banyan Botanicals. http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/mahanarayan-oil/

After the cups were removed that man was reluctant to move and sit up for fear of experiencing the old pains he had before and during the process of getting on the table.

As you can see from the final picture, for the first time since our first encounter, the man was sitting up and specifically said “I feel good,” exclaiming that he hadn’t felt so much relief from pain in over 14 years of multiple and costly medical procedures and physical therapy.

I also prescribed an ancient traditional Chinese herbal formula for back and joint pains and both osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis called Du Huo Ji Sheng Pian (Wan) to be taken as pills three times daily. This formula contains up to 14 herbs and when taken over a period of weeks to 3 months is remarkably effective in treating back and joint pains especially of the lower body.

Among the powerfully anti-inflammatory, analgesic, blood-moving herbs in the formula are a species of angelica (Angelica pubescentis) and Loranthes, a particular species of mistletoe found growing on mulberry trees (do not use American mistletoe as it is toxic).

It is moments such as this that provide me with the most satisfaction and joy.