ACUPUNCTURE CARE FOR A PATIENT WITH HERNIATED NUCLEUS PULPOSUS (HNP) AT HARMONI MEDIKA HEALTHY HOUSE, MEDAN

Abstract

Background: Lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) may be associated with low back pain, buttock pain, sensory symptoms, and limitations in daily activities. Acupuncture may be considered as a complementary approach to symptom management; however, a single case cannot establish treatment efficacy.

Objective: To describe the clinical assessment, acupuncture care, and changes reported and observed over six acupuncture sessions in one patient with HNP at Rumah Sehat Harmoni Medan.

Methods: A qualitative case-study approach was used involving one 40-year-old male participant who reported low back pain for approximately two months. Clinical information was collected using a Client Data Sheet and the four traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) examination methods: Wang (observation), Wen (listening and smelling), Wen (inquiry), and Qie (palpation). Six acupuncture sessions were delivered, using BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, LI4, and KI3, based on the TCM pattern diagnosis recorded by the practitioner as Qi and blood stagnation in the Bladder meridian. Changes were assessed descriptively through the participant’s reports and clinical observations.

Results: By the sixth session, the participant reported substantially reduced low back pain, less frequent buttock soreness, disappearance of the burning sensation in the soles of the feet, improved movement, and more comfortable sleep. Clinical observations included a more relaxed facial expression, a pinker tongue body, less prominent purplish sublingual veins, reduced tenderness at BL23, and a pulse described as less rapid.

Conclusion: Symptomatic and observational improvement was documented during the six-session care period. Because this is a single case without a control group or standardized outcome measurements, the changes cannot be attributed to acupuncture alone. Acupuncture may be considered only as a complementary intervention following appropriate medical assessment.