🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Labor Is the Root of All Pain
Company reforms were at a critical stage, and after new policies were implemented, Mr. Zhong, aged 45, led several subordinates on a site inspection. While descending stairs, he accidentally stepped wrong and severely twisted his ankle. He couldn’t walk immediately. Fortunately, no bones were broken—only severe tendon strain. For the next half month, he had to manage company affairs from home.
Mr. Liu, a tall man serving as deputy general manager of a Macau casino, just turned 43. Recently, due to nonstop work handling casino operations, he was utterly exhausted. A friend casually tapped his shoulder from behind. As Mr. Liu turned to look, intense pain shot through his waist, rendering him unable to stand. He was carried to hospital and diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation.
After business expansion, Mr. Ma frequently drove long distances across the province. For half a month, he’d been overwhelmed with work. One night, after returning home from Zhuhai and Zhongshan, it was already 11 p.m. Upon getting out of the car, he tried to carry samples upstairs but immediately felt severe back pain, unable to put his foot down. His family rushed him to hospital, where he was diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation.
Experts analyze that stepping wrong while descending stairs stems from reduced coordination due to fatigue. Being tapped on the shoulder or lifting light objects causing disc herniation results from accumulated pressure overwhelming the discs. Thus, Professor She Shouzhang says most acute pains stem from chronic overwork finally erupting—most common among middle-aged people. Middle-aged individuals bear heavy responsibilities at work and at home, facing immense psychological and physical stress, leading to exhaustion. Under minor triggers, various acute or chronic pain conditions easily arise. "Among patients visiting pain clinics, about 5% suffer sports injuries, 70% have disc herniation, and the rest are mostly neuralgia caused by other diseases."
Special Guest Experts: Professor She Shouzhang, Director of the Pain Center at Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, and Associate Professor Zhang Banguo, Deputy Director.
Three Daily Massages Worsened Pain
Mr. Chen (anonymous), former vice secretary of a newly established district in Guangzhou, had an extremely busy schedule with countless social engagements. "Many people know I often have shoulder and back discomfort, so they invite me for massage. Besides the three major hospitals in our district, I’ve visited numerous famous massage places—sometimes as many as three sessions in one day," Mr. Chen said. Yet, despite years of frequent visits to skilled masseurs, his shoulder and back pain showed no improvement—on the contrary, episodes became more frequent and severe. Recently, he sought treatment at the pain department of Guangzhou First People’s Hospital. After reviewing thick stacks of MR, CT, and X-ray films from the past three years, experts discovered he suffered from cervical disc herniation. The images clearly showed worsening severity year by year. After treatments including disc dissolution and traction, his shoulder and back pain completely disappeared.
Experts say Mr. Chen’s cervical disc herniation worsened significantly due to frequent massages. Shoulder and back pain can also result from misaligned small cervical joints, detectable through palpation or X-rays. Massage can correct such misalignments. However, once cervical disc herniation is confirmed, massage should be avoided—specialized treatment is required instead.
Men around middle age often experience various pains. Those with financial means typically turn to massage to relieve pain and restore energy. But improper massage can actually worsen certain pains.
Preventing Pain Is Simple
After experiencing pain, see a specialist to correctly identify the cause. Prevention is straightforward:
Rest properly. Rest releases accumulated tension, maintains body coordination, and reduces risk of acute pain.
Exercise back and waist muscles. Since about 70% of patients suffer from disc herniation, strengthening back muscles can reduce risk. Swimming is excellent. Also, go to gyms and use equipment specifically designed for back muscles. Additionally, the five-point support method (lying flat, supporting body with head, elbows, and heels to form an arch) and backward walking (fully exercising back and waist muscles) are effective. Strong back muscles act like a natural corset around the waist, providing crucial protection.