Acupuncture Services of Central NY

Regardless of the ailment that is being treated in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the focus is always on treating the whole person. For example, a typical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome would include placing needles on the body to unblock the energy pathways (meridians) that run thru the wrist, and also to place needles on the body that would have the function of nourishing and/or relaxing the tendons.

While acupuncture is extremely safe and using multiple needles usually puts the body in a profound state of relaxation, caution is indicated if the patient is extremely fatigued, hungry or emotionally distraught.

A few weeks ago, I had a new patient with an acute flare up of carpal tunnel syndrome. She arrived at my office in tears, stating that she had not slept in four days. She had not eaten at all that day. And her pain was so severe that she said she wished that she “could just cut her arm off to make the pain go away.” She said that it felt as if there was a nail at the center of her wrist (exactly at the location of Pericardium 7 for anyone familiar with acupuncture point location). The pain radiated into her palm and up to the elbow along the pericardium channel. She was also a little nervous because she had never had acupuncture before. I was really concerned about treating this patient too aggressively.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend an acupuncture seminar in New Mexico. The speaker was Dr. Richard Tan. He explained theories of selecting acupuncture points to treat pain that was quite different from my traditional training. He calls his method the Balance method. I found his theories to be very logical, even mathematical. Having worked as a computer programmer for twenty years, I was fascinated. He taught us to look at the body holographically and to image the “sick” part of the body on a healthy part of the body. Hence, the leg can image the arm and the ankle can image the wrist. Then based on our knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, we would select points that would balance the sick meridian. He also taught us to “never underestimate the power of a single needle”.

Hoping that I would be able to help this woman, I selected a point (Liver 4) on the ankle opposite to the wrist pain. Within seconds, the pain started to subside and within two minutes it was completely gone. The patient was amazed and able to rest comfortably for forty minutes with the one needle in place. After leaving my office, the pain completely subsided for eight hours and then returned at a much more tolerable level. (This is a common pattern in pain management with acupuncture). After a second treatment, the patient reported a 99% improvement and now will continue treatments to balance the whole body, with the intention of preventing future flare-ups.

About the Author:

Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in New Hartford, NY. She writes alternative health articles about acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Posted by Webmaster at 10:27 PM | Carpal Tunnel - Never Underestimate the Power of a Single Needle

I’m a non-competitive runner, with a history of Achilles tendonitis in both legs. As I run all year, I was discouraged to have a re-occurrence just a month before the 2006 15K Utica Boilermaker, which I have run consecutively for 15 years. This particular injury makes walking painful and running impossible. Previously, I had taken the conventional route of rest, ice, electronic stimulation, ibuprofen and physical therapy. Unfortunately, the recovery period lasted almost 3 months.

Most recently, I treated myself with rest, ice and an herbal anti-inflammatory, with a limited degree of relief. Running, however, was out of the question. I had heard of acupuncture, and although I was skeptical, I was also desperate. My first session consisted of a thorough review of my medical history and physical condition. It was a soothing and relaxing experience and amazingly, I felt an immediate improvement. I continued my own self-treatment and followed up with a second acupuncture appointment one week later. After this second session, I felt ready to begin running again. I began to slowly build my running mileage and completed the race with absolutely no calf pain that day or thereafter.

All the above treatments combined may have contributed to a speedy recovery period, but based on past experience with this injury, I would highly recommend acupuncture.

Joyce…. Thank you

Marianne, Sauquoit, NY

Posted by Joyce Marley at 11:00 PM | Patient Testimonial - Archilles Tendonitis

"Between Heaven and Earth"
"A Guide to Chinese Medicine"
By Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korn

When I first mentioned to my yoga teacher several years ago that I was considering a major career change and wanted to go back to school to study Traditional Chinese  Medicine (TCM), (I had been a computer programmer/systems analyst for 20 years) – she suggested that I read “Between Heaven and Earth”.  I bought the book that day and have been fascinated with the theories that are the foundation of TCM ever since.

"Between Heaven and Earth" compares the philosophies of Eastern and Western medicine in language that is easy for the layperson to understand; The authors explain basic concepts of Qi (pronounced “chee”), Yin-Yang theory and Five-Element relationships – all fundamental concepts of Chinese medicine.  The book explains how organs in the human body are defined as either a yin organ or a yang organ and how they are paired to form an organ network.  Each network has functions that parallel our Western view of anatomy and physiology, but in TCM each organ network has an expanded function.  For example, both Eastern and Western medicine understand that the heart has the function of circulating blood thru the body.  But TCM also believes that the Heart network “houses the mind” and is responsible for our capacity to think clearly, sleep peacefully and to speak and communicate.

Chinese medicine recognizes that climate, emotions and lifestyle have a profound effect on the health of the human body."Between Heaven and Earth" explains how Chinese medicine views that specific emotions effect specific organs in the body and gives examples of pathologies that may result from extreme or chronic emotional experiences.

The book has excellent discussions on tongue and pulse diagnosis and how they play a part in diagnosing imbalance in the body.  Chapters on acupuncture and herbal therapy then discuss how the imbalances are corrected with two of the oldest medical modalities in the world.

Overall, I feel that "Between Heaven and Earth" is an excellent resource for both the patient and practitioner of Chinese medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 09:00 AM | Between Heaven and Earth - A Guide to Chinese Medicine Book Review

Linda – Clinton, NY

After having physical therapy from August 2005 thru October 2005 for my plantar fasciitis, I asked my podiatrist for his thoughts on acupuncture. He gave me a positive response and suggested Joyce Marley.

I began acupuncture treatment with Joyce on November 23, 2005. I was seen twice a week until the end of December, at which time my husband and I went to South Carolina for three months. After a month of treatments with Joyce, the pain began to subside. By mid-February, I had NO pain when walking while wearing shoes, (and I have done a LOT of walking) and I am now able to walk on hard surfaces, barefoot with minimal or no discomfort (no more pain!) 99.9% of the time.

Joyce is a caring person and is very gentle in the application of the needles, working in a calm, relaxing atmosphere. I highly recommend her. I realize acupuncture may not work for everyone, but PT didn’t work for me this time. I definitely think acupuncture helped me.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 09:00 PM | Acupuncture Patient Testimonial - Plantar Fasciitis

April, 2006
Cathe – New Hartford, NY

In the late fall of 2004, as I was trying to do the endless chopping that accompanies making a holiday dinner, I was having severe pain in my right hand. I had an adverse reaction to my Hepatitis B injections earlier in the year, and it had thrown me into a rheumatoid arthritis type of reaction. I had been seeing an area rheumatologist who had prescribed short term steroids, Methotrexate, and finally Enbrel injections to relieve the symptoms and try to prevent its exacerbation. All of these treatments left me severely nauseous and weak and without relief from the pain. It was impacting my ability to concentrate on my work and leaving me feeling hopeless. After developing hives following my Enbrel injections, I knew I needed to do something else or I would lose the use of my right hand.

When my husband, Bob suggested a year ago that I make an appointment to come in and talk to Joyce about acupuncture, I will admit I was highly skeptical that it would help me. As a nurse, I was certainly aware of the benefits of acupuncture for anesthesia and pain relief, but I had not found evidence that it would help me with rheumatoid arthritis. He was so desperate to find a solution that I agreed to “try a few sessions”.

I was immediately impressed with the thorough health history Joyce took and her pleasant comforting manner. She did tell me that acupuncture would not necessarily cure the RA, and that I should continue to be followed by my physician. She said that she could offer me pain relief and improved joint flexibility. After two sessions, I noticed a significant difference. I was no longer rubbing my hand in pain all day, the edema and discoloration were lessening and I no longer had that rubbery feeling that impacted my fine motor coordination. As the weekly treatments continued, I was no longer in pain and had returned to playing tennis, kayaking, keyboarding, and I could take blood pressures without pain.

Another unexpected benefit has been that my allergy symptoms and sinus infections have decreased significantly since I have been getting acupuncture treatments. Where I would have 6-8 sinus infections a year, I only had one in the year since Joyce began treating me and it was relatively mild in comparison.

I still do not fully understand how acupuncture works, but I will accept that the ancient Chinese practitioners knew what they were doing when they mapped out the acupuncture points.

I am grateful to my husband for convincing me to give acupuncture a try. I am especially grateful to Joyce for the gifts she brings to her practice. Her patience, excellent listening skills, her gentle manner, and her willingness to reach out to Western medical practitioners to find solutions for her clients’ ills are commendable.

(since the writing of this letter, Cathe has gone into remission for her rheumatoid arthritis!)

Posted by Joyce Marley at 09:00 PM | Patient Testimonial for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Allergies

Trigeminal neuralgia, a disorder of the trigeminal nerve, is a condition that produces intense, sporadic facial pain along one or more of the three branches of this nerve. The pain is severe and can last from seconds to minutes. Another name for this condition is “tic douloreaux” due to the fact that facial muscle spasms often accompany the pain. The pain can be triggered by normal activities such as eating, brushing of the teeth or even touching trigger points on the face during everyday activities such as washing the face or applying make-up. Wind, cold, heat, stress or fatigue may aggravate the condition. The pain is typically one sided, more common in women and more common in the over 40 population. The condition may become chronic and debilitating, often lasting for years.

Once Western medicine utilizes an MRI exam to rule out a physical obstruction pressing on the trigeminal nerve or multiple sclerosis, which can mimic the same symptoms, the choice of treatment is drug therapy to control the pain. Often drugs such as Tegritol or Neurontin can control the pain, but not without the significant risk of side effects ranging from dizziness and nausea to serious heart, liver, kidney and blood complications. Occasionally, surgical intervention is the last resort to provide relief.

If the first branch of the trigeminal nerve is compromised, the nose and eye area will be affected. The second branch is related to the nose and upper jaw. The third branch supports the lower jaw and ear.

The basic premise behind the theory of acupuncture is that energy flows thru the body on very specific pathways called meridians. When these pathways become blocked, pain and disease result. Inserting very fine needles into points on the pathways facilitates the smooth flow of energy and pain is relieved. There are many acupuncture points on the face that directly correlate to the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. One common approach to treat trigeminal neuralgia with acupuncture is to insert very fine needles into the corresponding facial points in an attempt to unblock the energy. Sometimes the needles are additionally stimulated with electricity to strengthen the treatment.

Other schools of thought, and MY first approach, use distal points (points on the arms and legs) that will directly affect the meridians on the face. I rarely put a needle into the part of the body that has pain. Often within minutes of inserting a needle on the leg opposite to the facial pain, the patient will feel relief. This is because there is a very complex network of energy pathways that connect the meridians and a very sophisticated set of relationships between the various pathways. After a series of acupuncture treatments, episodes of facial pain often become much less frequent or subside altogether.

Traditional Chinese medicine will diagnose the underlying cause of the energy blockage by inquiring about all bodily functions, examining the tongue and taking the pulses on both wrists. Additional needles are placed to address the underlying cause of the pain. The goal is to address both the pain AND the underlying cause which varies from person to person.

For example, if the nature of the pain is burning, aggravated by heat and alleviated by coolness, Chinese medicine believes that heat may have actually lodged in the energy pathways. If the person sweats and appears to have a red complexion during the episode and presents with a red tongue and rapid pulse, the diagnosis of heat invasion will become even more evident. Specific points on the affected meridians have the function to clear heat and would be added. Patients with this presentation would be advised to avoid spicy foods and alcohol, which create heat in the body.

If the episodes are aggravated by stress and spasms are predominant, there are other points that traditionally have been known to relax the body and calm the mind. My patients often tell me that they are better able to cope with the stress in their lives after acupuncture treatments. Patients in this category often have a slightly purple cast to the tongue and a pulse that feels like a guitar string.

Other underlying causes may be related to the normal aging process and a different tongue picture and pulse will become part of the overall diagnosis. In this case, herbs may be suggested to tonify the body while addressing the facial pain.

In any case, acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating trigeminal neuralgia. And without side effects!

About the Author:

Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in New Hartford, NY. She writes alternative health articles about acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 09:00 PM | Acupuncture Relief for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can be used to treat numerous health problems. Below you will find articles relating to certain conditions. This list will grow as articles are added:
Allergies, Anxiety, Archilles Tendonitis, Arthritis, Asthma, Back pain, Bells Palsey, Carpal Tunnel, Depression, Digestive Disorders, Fibromyalgia, Frozen Shoulder, IBS, Infertility, Insomnia, Menieres Disease, Menopause, Migraines, PMS, Peripheral Neuropathy, Plantar Fasciitis, Sciatica, Shingles, Sinus Problems, Stroke, TMJ, Trigeminal Neuralgia

Posted by Webmaster at 05:02 PM | Health A-Z

From Rosemary - New Hartford, NY

I am a type 2 diabetic and have survived breast cancer twice. I have peripheral neuropathy (from diabetes and chemotherapy) and consequently have chronic pain. Additionally, I have frequent headaches and recurring digestive disorders. My acupuncture sessions with Joyce have given me immediate (and increasingly long term) relief unlike anything found in traditional medicine. Traditional medicine offers drugs that sometimes address the symptoms but are almost never without side effects. For me, acupuncture effectively treats my chronic pain with no side effects. More importantly, during the sessions and when I leave her office, I feel completely relaxed, without pain, and energized.

Joyce’s knowledge of acupuncture allows her treatment approach to be flexible enough to address the array of problems I’ve had. She has successfully treated my headaches, digestive difficulties and gall bladder disorder. She is clearly committed to her profession and giving her patients the best care possible.

Posted by Webmaster at 02:55 PM | Acupuncture Patient Testimonial - Peripheral Neuropathy, Headaches, Digestive Disorder

TMJ (TemporoMandibular Joint Syndrome) refers to a condition related to the joint connecting the jaw (mandible) to the skull. Several symptoms may be experienced, including myofascial pain, inability to comfortably open the mouth, locking of the jaw, clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint, headaches, and ear pain or ringing in the ears. Pain may even radiate into the neck and shoulders.

TMJ may result from injury, overstretching the jaw during dental or surgical procedures, repetitive movements (gum chewing), or clenching and grinding the teeth (bruxism). There seems to be a connection between TMJ and some autoimmune diseases. More than 50% of those diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis also suffer from TMJ.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that up to 25 million people may experience some or all of these symptoms. Though both men and women are affected, women seem to be more at risk. Western medical treatment includes the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, oral splints and in 5-10% of patients – surgical correction.

In 1997, the NIH organized a panel of pain specialists who concluded that “acupuncture may be a useful adjunct treatment or acceptable alternative” to treat TMJ. Today, TMJ is quite commonly and successfully treated by acupuncture.

The basic premise behind the theory of acupuncture is that energy flows thru the body on very specific pathways called meridians. When these pathways become blocked, pain and disease result. Inserting very fine needles into points on the pathways facilitates the smooth flow of energy and pain is relieved. There are twenty documented meridians in the body. Four of the meridians flow directly thru the jaw joint.

Some acupuncturists choose to put needles locally in the area of the pain – around the ear and in points along the jaw. And it is perfectly acceptable to do so. But, the meridian system is very complex and there are many inter-connecting pathways and relationships between the meridians that make local needles unnecessary. Some of the most powerful points to treat TMJ are located near the big toe, elbows and knees. This is usually my approach. Often within minutes of inserting these distal needles, the patient is able to notice the difference in the jaw – less pain and greater range of motion. If grinding of the teeth is an issue, I will add an experience point on the lower leg that treats bruxism.

After the needles are removed, relief will vary between patients. If the TMJ has been chronic, several treatments will most likely be necessary. Often, I apply small seeds to the surface of the ear over points that have been shown to correspond to the jaw. By applying pressure to the seeds between treatments, the patient can extend the benefits of the acupuncture treatment by doing this self acupressure treatment.

Chinese medicine categorizes pain and disease in terms of the energy in the body being out of balance. This out of balance is either diagnosed as being excess or deficient, or a combination. An acupuncturist will gather information about the progression of the disease, inquire as to what factors aggravate or alleviate the symptoms, analyze all bodily functions, examine the tongue and take the pulse. A pattern of disharmony between the meridians and their associated organs in the body becomes apparent.

In addition to inserting needles into points to address the jaw symptoms, additional needles may be placed to treat the underlying cause of the problem. Because of this very individualized approach, I may see ten people with TMJ and treat them all slightly differently, based on their Chinese medical diagnosis. In some cases, an herbal formula may be recommended.

About the Author:

Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in New Hartford, NY. She writes alternative health articles about acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 06:40 PM | Acupuncture for TMJ

Migraines are recurrent headaches that may or may not be associated with visual or gastrointestinal symptoms. Pain may be one-sided or more generalized. Women are more prone to migraines than men, suggesting that hormone imbalance may play a factor in the etiology. Triggers associated with migraines include stress, fatigue and weather changes. Some people are sensitive to alcohol and foods containing MSG, tyramine and nitrates.

Western medicine attempts to manage migraines with various drug therapies - often effective, but often with side effects. Many research studies have been conducted that confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat chronic headaches, particularly migraines. Patients who received regular sessions of acupuncture reported fewer, less severe headaches and commonly used less medication.

The basic premise behind the theory of acupuncture is that energy flows thru the body on very specific pathways called meridians. When these pathways become blocked, pain and disease result. Inserting very fine needles into points on the pathways facilitates the smooth flow of energy and pain is relieved. There are twenty documented meridians in the body – twelve are often referred to as “primary” meridians and eight are referred to as “extra” meridians. The first job of the acupuncturist is to determine which of the meridians are involved.

Some of the most powerful points to treat migraines are on the feet. That can be explained by the fact that the three meridians most affected by migraines have pathways that originate on the head, but travel the length of the body and end on the feet. By inserting a needle in the corresponding foot point, pressure is released from the whole meridian, easing pain. Different points would be selected depending on whether the headache is occipital, frontal or temporal. Often points on the hand are added to treat headaches. A point in the web between the thumb and first finger is known as the “command point” of the head in Chinese medicine and is very powerful to treat headaches.

Chinese medicine categorizes pain and disease in terms of the energy in the body being out of balance. This out of balance is either diagnosed as being excess or deficient, or a combination. An acupuncturist will gather information about the history of the headaches, inquire as to what factors aggravate or alleviate the symptoms, analyze all bodily functions, examine the tongue and take the pulse. A pattern of disharmony between the meridians and their associated organs in the body becomes apparent.

For example, a detailed history of the menses is very important for female patients and can be very indicative of an imbalance in the body related to headaches. It would not be unusual to learn that a woman with temporal headaches triggered by stress, also suffers from an irregular cycle with PMS symptoms of irritability and breast distention. Or a woman whose menstrual flow is very light and whose tongue looks pale, may typically suffer headaches and dizziness immediately following the end of the menses. The pain may be behind the eyes and alleviated by pressure. Or a woman who is prone to vertex headaches, may also have a red tongue and pulse that feels like a guitar string and may suffer from insomnia and high blood pressure.

Each of these cases would be treated slightly differently and because the whole body is brought back into balance, not only would the headaches improve, but other symptoms of PMS, fatigue and insomnia as well.

About the Author:
Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in New Hartford, NY. She writes alternative health articles about acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 08:16 PM | Acupuncture Treats Migraines