Acupuncture Services of Central NY

Here is a demonstration of Chinese medicine cupping to treat low back pain - performed by the author of “Traditional Chinese Medicine Cupping Therapy”, Ilkay Zihni Chirali. In this video, he is using cups made of glass. Glass cups are probably the most commonly used in this country because they are easy to sterilize and it is easy to see the strength of the suction when applied to the patients skin. In China, bamboo cups are very common because they are inexpensive, but they have some disadvantages. They have sharp edges, break down easily and can be a greater risk for cross-infection.

In both cases, the technique of obtaining suction is the same. A cotton ball is soaked in alcohol and lit. This is used to heat the inside of the cup which removes the oxygen and creates a vacuum. When the cup is placed on the patient, the skin is drawn up into the cup. By placing the cup over an injured area, stagnant blood and toxins are brought to the surface allowing fresh blood to nourish the injured site. Often the skin will be left with circular bruises that may last up to two weeks.

In this particular video, the cups are being placed over specific acupuncture points that have the function of tonifying the Kidney energy – UB23 and DU4. Chronic, dull, low back pain in Chinese medicine is usually associated with deficient Kidney energy. This may be due to the normal aging process, or may be brought on by activities that deplete the Kidney energy, such as excessive overwork, excessive sexual activity, multiple pregnancies, or standing for long periods of time.

Since sexual complaints (impotence and loss of libido) are also closely associated with Kidney energy deficiency, this same treatment can be used to improve sexual function. In terms of western medicine, the nerves of the lumbar vertebrae supply the sex organs and nerve centers in the lower end of the spinal cord are very important in activating an erotic response in the body. When blood flow is increased in this area of the body, sexual function improves.

About the Author:

Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist who provides acupuncture therapy in New Hartford, NY. She writes alternative health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 05:32 AM | Cupping Therapy For Lower Back Pain

Cupping Therapy has been an integral part of Chinese medicine for thousands of years and continues to be incorporated into treatments today. This book by Ilkay Zihni Chitali is an excellent resource for the practitioner of Chinese medicine. Mr. Chitali provides details for ten different cupping methods. For each method he explains the technique itself in detail along with valuable illustrations.
Examples are given for conditions that may benefit from that particular technique. Half of the book (almost 100 pages) is devoted to specific treatment protocols for common ailments. Cupping instructions are given along with acupuncture points, moxibustion and herbal remedies. Case studies accompany each section.

Several techniques may be used with children and he specifically notes the difference in cupping duration and technique that should be applied for each age group.

Some of the common disorders that benefit from cupping are the common cold, back pain, insomnia, hiccups, fatigue and constipation. For children, asthma and bed-wetting are probably the most frequently treated conditions. But, you may also be surprised to know that cupping can increase libido and help correct bladder and uterine prolapse!

About the Author:

Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist serving the Utica-Rome, NY. She writes alternative health articles about acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

There are many Master Tung points that I personally have found to be more effective than traditional meridian acupuncture points and Wu Hu (Five Tigers) is in that category. Wu Hu is a set of five acupuncture points located on the radial aspect of the proximal segment of the thumb on the border of the red and white skin. The points are numbered sequentially, one thru five, with Wu Hu 1 being the most distal point and Wu Hu 5 the most proximal.

Wu Hu 1 is selected for finger pain, palmer pain and tenosynovitis. Wu Hu 3 is selected for toe pain. Wu Hu 2 is added to strengthen the effect of Wu Hu 1 or 3. Wu Hu 4 is needled for instep or dorsal foot pain and Wu Hu 5 is very effective for heel pain (in combination with points on the heel of the palm and PC 7 on the pericardium meridian). As with most Master Tung points used to treat painful conditions, points are needled contralaterally to the pain and the patient is asked to move the affected part of the body while the needles are stimulated.

Yesterday a patient dropped a door on his big toe while doing some home improvements. Though he had been coming to see me for neck pain, Wu Hu 2 and 3 were my first choice to relieve the throbbing pain in the toe before we continued with the treatment for the neck.

I have used Wu Hu 1 and 2 for a patient with Dupuytren’s contracture and within seconds the patient was able to fully extend the fingers as the whole palm relaxed. We were both amazed at the instant change.

I also used Wu Hu 1 and 2 for a gentleman who had had a stroke. The stroke had left the entire left side of his body very weak. When he came to see me, his main complaint was spasms in the fingers of his RIGHT hand, which he relied upon to navigate with his cane. After two treatments with the Five Tiger points, he had significant improvement for seven weeks! Unfortunately, he had other health issues that prevented him from resuming treatments.

I have recently learned that Dr. Robert Chu, another Master Tung experienced practitioner, has documented a similar set of points on the big toe, calling those points “Foot Five Tiger”. The indications for the Foot Five Tiger points mirror those of the Master Tung hand points. You can read more about these points on www.chinesemedicinetimes.com/section/218/1/the_acupuncture_of_master_tung.

So, although these points are outstanding for acute sports injuries, I have used them for chronic conditions as well.

About the Author
Joyce Marley is a NYS licensed acupuncturist and is trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She incorporates many of Master Tung's acupuncture points in her treatments.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 11:08 AM | Master Tung Five Tiger Points For Finger and Toe Pain

Master Tung passed away in 1975 leaving behind only one book documenting his acupuncture points. Today there are only three direct disciples of Master Tung living in the US. Dr. Wei-Chieh Young is one of them. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Young for sharing his experience with Master Tung’s points via his lectures, seminars and recently published books.

Xiaojie is a point that Dr. Young discovered based on Master Tung’s holographic imaging of the body and contralateral needling technique. This point is located at the base of the ball of the thumb and needled for an inch and a half thru the thenar eminance of the palm. This acupuncture point alone is amazingly effective for sprained or strained ankle and I have had occasion to use it several times in my clinic.

Once inserted on the side of the body opposite to the sprain, the needle is rotated while the patient moves the affected ankle for ten minutes. Then the needle is retained for 30 to 45 minutes. Usually significant relief is achieved in one or two treatments!

For those acupuncture students or practitioners interested in Dr. Young’s books, they can be purchased at his website - http://www.drweichiehyoung.com/.

About the Author
Joyce Marley is a NYS licensed acupuncturist and is trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She incorporates many of Master Tung's acupuncture points in her treatments.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 05:23 AM | Acupuncture Point Xiaojie for Ankle Pain

Here it is - my debut on www.youtube.com! My sister convinced me that I could make an instructional video on acupressure, so we gave it a whirl. Considering we had several takes due to one or both of us bursting out laughing, it didn't come out too bad, if I do say so myself.

I chose to demonstrate this Master Tung acupuncture point because I have used it myself and I know it is effective. As I say in the video, the translated name of the point is "Intestine Gate". Intestine Gate has a powerful effect on calming the intestinal tract. Acupressure can be used in an acute situation. Acupuncture to this point along with others based on the Chinese medical differential diagnosis can be used to treat chronic diarrhea.

The point is located on the small intestine meridian. Approximately three inches proximal (closer to the elbow) on the same meridian, is another point called Liver Gate. Acupuncture to both of these points can help enteritis due to hepatitis.

About the Author
Joyce Marley is a NYS licensed acupuncturist and is trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine with a practice in New Hartford, NY. . She incorporates many of Master Tung's acupuncture points in her treatments.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 05:27 AM | Self Acupressure For Diarrhea

This two-point unit is located on the ulnar aspect of the proximal segment of the dorsal side of the thumb. This acupuncture point is very effective to treat almost any kind of gynecological disease including irregular menses, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, amenorrhea, endometriosis, fallopian tube blockage, uterine pain or fibroids, frequent miscarriage and infertility.
This point is needled on one hand and often coupled with a different point on the opposite hand called Return to Nest (Nest being a reference to the uterus). The first time Fu Ke will be needled on the left and Return to Nest on the Right. The next time, Fu Ke will be needled on the right and Return to Nest on the left. Continue alternating the points with each treatment.

Depending on the condition being treated, additional points may be needled. For example, adding ST44 and SP6 – meridian acupuncture points, will alleviate menstrual cramps. Adding another Master Tung point on the second toe – Mu Fu – can be an effective way to open blocked fallopian tubes.

I always add the Fu Ke points to a treatment plan when a woman seeks acupuncture treatment for infertility. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), infertility is divided into five types – Kidney deficiency, Qi and Blood deficiency, Liver Qi stagnation, Blood stagnation or phlegm dampness. An infertility patient will commonly present with a combination of patterns. All of them respond well to herbal and acupuncture therapy. Based on pattern differentiation, acupuncture points to address the underlying cause of the infertility are added to the Fu Ke protocol.

About the Author
Joyce Marley is a NYS licensed acupuncturist and is trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She incorporates many of Master Tung's acupuncture points in her treatments.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 10:59 AM | Master Tung’s Gynecology (Fu Ke) Acupuncture Point