Acupuncture Services of Central NY

One of the most famous and most commonly used acupuncture points on the body is named Yintang, or Hall of Impression. This point lies midway between the medial end of the eyebrows, in the area designated by many cultures as the “third eye”.

Many first time acupuncture patients look at me a little trepidly when I tell them that we are going to put a needle here on their face. This point is actually the first point that I had to practice needling as an acupuncture student, so I can assure you that it is in no way uncomfortable or dangerous.

Most acupuncture points lie on the body's energy pathways called meridians and have both a Chinese name and a numbered naming convention. The numbering system is probably the way most American acupuncturists learn the points. This point is a little unique in the fact that it does lie on a meridian. It lies on the Governing vessel which is in itself a little unique. There are twelve regular meridians on the body and eight meridians that are designated as Extraordinary meridians. The Governing vessel belongs to one of the Extraordinary meridians. The Governing vessel has twenty-eight points numbered one thru twenty-eight and Yintang is not considered to be one of them. Yintang is one of many “Extra” acupuncture points that have been documented over the centuries to have very specific functions.

Yintang has a very powerful action of calming the mind and because of this action is almost always used in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and agitation. Because of the location of Yintang, it can be an effective point to treat a frontal headache. Yintang also benefits the nose and is often used to treat nasal and sinus congestion, rhinitis and nosebleed. Yintang can be used to treat disorders of the eyes and can be stimulated not only by acupuncture, but also acupressure. I often give my patients homework to do between acupuncture treatments. Self acupressure on a number of acupuncture points on the face and head will increase circulation to the eyes and Yintang is one of those points.

Yintang has other functions that may not be so obvious. It is an acupuncture point that is often combined with other acupuncture points to treat hypertension and dizziness. And getting a lot of press these days is the use of acupuncture for facial rejuvenation. Yintang is a point that will be used to reduce wrinkles on the bridge of the nose.

You can see that Yintang is truly an extraordinary acupuncture point, not only because of its location, but also because of the multitude of powerful applications when treating the human body!

About the Author: Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist who provides acupuncture therapy in New Hartford, NY. She writes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 01:29 PM | Yintang: An Extraordinary Acupuncture Point

Acupuncture can provide relief for both back pain and sciatic pain. I see it every day in my practice. Back strain and sciatic pain are quite common in pregnant women starting in the second trimester. As the baby grows, the weight distribution on the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints, along with the associated muscles and tissues, changes quickly and drastically. Women may alter their posture to compensate for this change or fall into a habit of poor posture due to fatigue from carrying this new weight. At the same time, hormonal changes in the body are causing the ligaments in the pelvic area to relax and soften in preparation for labor and delivery. This can cause instability of the sacroiliac joints.

Western medicine offers very little help for this condition other than rest and seems to not take it too seriously, since the cause of the problem will go away in a few months. But for those working women who must continue to function until close to their due date, the pain can be quite unbearable. It can affect their ability to do their job and can interfere with getting a good night's sleep. Without relief, these women will be exhausted even before delivering and caring for a new infant. Fortunately, acupuncture is quite safe and effective in treating back pain and sciatic pain during pregnancy.

There are many acupuncture points that can be effective. Local needles in the lower back, hip and leg may be used, but I find these to be very inconvenient for a pregnant woman. My favorite points for sciatic pain for the general population are Master Tung's points on the hand called Ling Gu and DaBai. But these points are on the Large Intestine channel, very close to Large Intestine 4 which is an acupuncture point that is definitely contraindicated during pregnancy.

I have had success treating sciatic pain during pregnancy with two other Master Tung points located on the forearm. Like many of Master Tung points, these two points are not located directly on a traditional meridian. They are located between the San Jiao (hand shaoyang) meridian and the Small Intestine (hand taiyang) meridian. Both points are located by placing the palm on the chest. The first point is Shou Wu Jin (Hand Five Gold). It is located 6.5 cun proximal to the pisiform bone and .5 cun lateral to the San Jiao meridian. The second point Shou Qian Jin (Hand Thousand Gold) is 1.5 cun proximal to Hand Five Gold. Because they are located between the hand shaoyang and the hand taiyang meridians, they can effectively treat sciatic pain along either the Gallbladder (foot shaoyang) meridian which runs down the outside of the leg or the Bladder (foot taiyang) meridian which runs down the back of the leg

I have found that just these two points can be very effective to get the pain out of the leg in just a few sessions. Depending on the position of the baby, it may not be possible to completely get the pain out of the back. Moxa may be helpful to relax the back muscles and be especially helpful if the area feels cold to the touch, indicating a Kidney yang deficiency. A partner can be instructed to use the moxa at home. My patients have been very grateful for the pain relief without the use of drugs or invasive procedures at this critical time in their baby's development.

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 09:51 AM | Acupuncture for Pregnancy Sciatic Pain

My thanks to Acupuncture Services of Central New York. I smoked cigarettes for 50 years before seeing Joyce Marley for her treatment. Over the years I have tried to quit smoking by using the nicotine patch, gum, rx nicotine inhaler, hypnotism, a timing device, and magnets for the ear. Eighteen years ago my mother, also a lifetime smoker, died of throat cancer. Although I was her primary care-giver, even that did not help me to quit smoking.

Then someone suggested acupuncture.

I called Joyce, got the details, and - No More Smoke! You must want to quit, and throw away any cigarettes you have left ... I certainly was tempted at first, so it's best not to have any cigarettes easily available. I used a lot of the scent, and drank a lot of the special tea that Joyce has available for you. And, by golly, it worked!!

After 50 years as a smoker, I have not smoked since my first acupuncture session in January 2010. I have no desire to "light up". No more coughing. No more shortness of breath. No more smell of smoke in my house or on me and my clothes. Life is good. Acupuncture = new life for me. Thanks Joyce.

Pat
Whitesboro, NY

About the Author: Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist who provides acupuncture therapy for smoking cessation in New Hartford, NY. She also writes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 05:29 AM | Acupuncture To Quit Smoking: A Testimonial

Whether or not you dream, and even what you dream about, is an important diagnostic sign in Chinese medicine pointing to what organs in your body may be out of balance. It is normal to dream, but when dreams become repetitive or disruptive to your sleep or you are bothered by nightmares, it is time to assess the bigger picture. A good practitioner of Chinese medicine will always ask about the frequency and nature of dreams and will use this information along with the other signs and symptoms in the health history to determine the pattern of imbalance.

In Chinese medicine, the Heart controls the mind and is closely related to our ability to think clearly, sleep soundly and have a good memory. All dreams are in some way related to a Heart disharmony, but some are more specifically related. According to the Chinese classic, “Simple Questions”, “When the Heart is weak, one dreams of fires; if the dream takes place in the summertime, one dreams of volcanic eruptions”. Another reference in the classic “Spiritual Axis” states that “When the Heart is in excess, one dreams of laughing...when the Heart is deficient, one dreams of mountains, fire and smoke”.

The Kidneys have a close relationship to the Heart in Chinese Medicine. The Kidney energy is the source of all warmth and energy in the body. The Kidney energy supports all of the other organs. This energy has to be strong to ascend from the Kidney to communicate with the Heart in order for the Heart to house the mind. The Spiritual Axis states that, “When the Kidneys are in excess one dreams that the spine is detached from the body...when they are weak, one dreams of being immersed in water.” “Simple Questions” states that “When the Kidneys are weak, one dreams of swimming after a shipwreck; if the dream takes place in the winter, one dreams of plunging in the water and being scared”.

The Liver is responsible for storing Blood and ensuring the smooth flow of Qi in the body. If the Liver is able to perform its functions, the Heart will have enough Blood to nourish the mind. If the Liver Qi is stagnant, Heat may be generated and rise up to harass the mind. “Simple Questions” states that “When the Liver is in excess, one dreams of being angry”. And “When the Liver is deficient, one dreams of very fragrant mushrooms. If the dream takes place in spring, one dreams of lying under a tree without being able to get up”. The “Spiritual Axis” states that, “When the Liver is deficient one dreams of forests in the mountains”.

The Lungs control the Qi which is closely associated to the Blood and how the Blood flows to nourish all of the organs. “Simple Questions” states that “When the Lungs are in excess, one dreams of weeping”. “If the Lungs are deficient, one will dream of white objects or about bloody killings. If the dream takes place in the Autumn, one will dream of battles and war”. “Spiritual Axis” states that “When the Lungs are in excess, one will have dreams of worry and fear, or crying and flying....if the Lungs are deficient one will dream of flying and seeing strange objects made of gold or iron”.

The Spleen also has a very close connection to the mind. The Spleen influences our ability to study and memorize. “Simple Questions” states that, “If the Spleen is deficient, one dreams of being hungry; if the dream takes place in late summer, one dreams of building a house”. Spiritual Axis” states that, “If the Spleen is in excess one dreams of singing and being very heavy...if the Spleen is deficient one dreams of abysses in mountains and of marshes”.

The Gallbladder has an influence on the length and quality of sleep. If the Gallbladder qi is deficient, a person will wake early in the morning and not be able to fall back asleep. Chinese texts state, that “When the Gallbladder is deficient, one dreams of fights, trials, and suicide.”

The “Spiritual Axis” states that “When the Small Intestine is deficient, one dreams of large cities”, and “When the Large Intestine is deficient, one dreams of open fields”.

Now, I know I have had dreams and none of them sound like any of the ones mentioned here in the Chinese classics. But the point is, Chinese medicine has centuries of documentation about the subject of our dreams and how it relates to the organs in our body. If there is a pattern to your dreams, Chinese medicine could logically explain a correlation according the the Five Element theory. If they always occur in a specific season it could be significant. Heart is summer, Lung is fall, Kidney is winter, Liver is spring and Spleen is late summer. If they always are associated with a specific color it could be significant. Heart is red, Lung is white, Kidney is black, Liver is green and Spleen is yellow. If they are always associated with a particular emotion, it could be significant. Heart is joy, Lung is grief, Kidney is fear, Liver is anger, and Spleen is worry. If they are always related to a particular element it could be significant. Heart is fire, Lung is metal, Kidney is water, Liver is wood and Spleen is earth.

Along with other symptoms concerning appetite, diet, energy level, pain, bowel and urination habits, and how the tongue looks, your dreams could be trying to tell you how to heal your whole body!

About the Author: Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist who provides acupuncture therapy in New Hartford, NY. She writes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 05:10 AM | What Do Dreams Mean According To Chinese Medicine?

Ginseng is probably the most famous, most commonly used, and possibly one of the most powerful herbs in the history of Chinese Herbal medicine. The Chinese pinyin name for ginseng is Ren Shen which translates to “man root”. One of the oldest principals of Chinese herbal medicine is that the shape, texture or color of a plant or natural substance may mimic certain parts of the body or attributes of certain diseases and therefore suggest a therapeutic correspondence.

In the case of ginseng root, Chinese farmers noticed centuries ago that it is shaped like a human body with head, arms and legs and therefore they deducted that it would strengthen the Qi, or energy, of the whole body. Years of experience using this herb have proven this to be true. Ren Shen, therefore has been catalogued in Chinese herbal medicine as a Qi tonic.

Good quality ginseng is quite expensive and requires special preparation. It is usually decocted separately from other herbs in small amounts of water and at relatively low temperatures to completely extract all of its active ingredients. Ginseng contains many amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

Ginseng strongly tonifies the source Qi of the whole body, tonifying all of the body's internal organs as it increases blood supply and oxygen to the brain. In China it is used in emergency situations for patients who have actually gone into shock from excessive loss of fluids, excessive loss of blood or chronic illness.

Ginseng especially tonifies both the Spleen and the Lung. When there are signs of Spleen qi deficiency, such as fatigue, nausea and vomiting, listlessness, diarrhea, or stomach and rectal prolapse, formulas are given which include ginseng. Some of the more famous formulas for Spleen Qi deficiency symptoms are Si Jun Zi Tang, Shen Ling Bai Zhu San and Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang. When there are signs of Lung qi deficiency such as shortness of breath, chronic cough, or spontaneous sweating, formulas are given which include ginseng. Ren Shen Ge Jie San is a famous formula for wheezing and shortness of breath due to Lung and Kidney qi deficiency.

Ginseng has been shown to have cardiovascular benefits and to improve mental function. In China, patients are actually given intravenous infusions of ginseng to treat cardiac ishcemia. Ginseng has been shown to have an effect on blood glucose to benefit those with diabetes. Other areas of promising research show benefits to cancer patients with leukopenia caused by chemotherapy. Ginseng treats impotence and increases sperm count and motility. Ginseng lowers blood cholesterol and significantly lowers triglycerides. Ginseng has a protective effect on the liver and may have beneficial effects on the symptoms of acute hepatitis. Ginseng treats hypertension and atherosclerosis.

So, with the amazing benefits of ginseng, you would think that everyone should be taking it and the more the better, right? Not so. Ginseng has a very low toxicity, but it is possible to overdose and have side effects. Some people can have an allergic reaction. And even more importantly, ginseng is contraindicated in certain people who are suffering what Chinese medical diagnosis would call excess conditions. Only a practitioner who has had years of training in Chinese medicine diagnosis can properly determine the signs and symptoms of an excess condition.

The good news is, in an era of baby boomers approaching the age where all of these health issues predominate, there is an herb that could help us live many more healthy years. We can only hope that the research and knowledge of the best way to use this herb will continue in this country as it has in China for centuries.

About the Author: Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist who provides acupuncture therapy in New Hartford, NY. She writes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 05:21 AM | Chinese Herbs: Ginseng, The “Man Root”

Acupuncture treats almost any kind of pain, but I rarely get a patient who comes to me specifically for the treatment of tailbone pain. And this is a very common ailment. Slips and falls can result in fractures and bruises of the tailbone. Sometimes the tailbone can be irritated or injured during pregnancy from the position of the fetus or during a difficult labor and delivery.

So why don't people consider acupuncture for the treatment of tailbone pain? Is it because they are deathly afraid of where they think I will put the needles? Or is it because they have been silently suffering and told by their physicians that only time will heal?

Well, I want to address both of those concerns! Western medicine has very little to offer in the effective treatment of tailbone pain. If a person has actually broken the tailbone and caused a deformity of the bone that may be dangerous to the surrounding tissues, surgery may be recommended. But in most cases of slips and falls that fracture or bruise the tailbone, the advice is rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications. Occasionally cortisone injections locally around the tailbone may be helpful, but these can be quite painful and the person may need a series of injections to get relief.

In my study of Master Tung acupuncture points, there is one point that is extremely effective for the treatment of tailbone or coccygeal pain. And to immediately put your mind to rest, there is no disrobing involved! The name of the point is Xinmen, or Heartgate. It is located about an inch and a half distal to the elbow. It is located on a traditional acupuncture meridian, or energy pathway, known as the Small Intestine meridian. But like most Master Tung acupuncture points, it is not the same location as any traditional Small Intestine acupuncture point.

This point alone, usually just needled on one side of the body, will show a remarkable effect in the treatment of tailbone pain. Heartgate is usually needled on the left side for men and the right side for women.

It's effectiveness is elegantly explained by basic concepts of Chinese medicine theory. Chinese medicine looks at the body holographically, meaning that one part of the body represents the whole body. So, if you superimpose the body on the arm, the location of this point corresponds to the sacral area. Another basic concept in Chinese medicine is that you treat points near a bone to more effectively treat bone problems. The Small Intestine meridian runs along the anterior border of the ulna bone and Heartgate is needled very close to the bone. And finally, the Small Intestine, or hand taiyang meridian is connected to the Bladder, or foot taiyang meridian. The Bladder meridian surrounds the entire length of the spine. This is why a point on the elbow can treat a problem of the tailbone!

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 08:27 PM | Acupuncture For Tailbone Pain

This morning I left the office of Dr. Christopher Wolter with a clean bill of health. Dr. Wolter is a urologist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. After three years of being passed from physician to physician, and test to test without a diagnosis, I took it upon myself to travel from upstate New York to what I had heard was one of the finest medical facilities in the world. In April, after eight days of sophisticated medical testing and imaging, Dr. Wolter confirmed that I had a rare endocrine paraganglioma embedded in the wall of my bladder. This tumor was causing my blood pressure to spike as high as 260/140 for several minutes after urination. I returned in June to have DaVinci robotic surgery. I am healing quickly and my blood pressure spikes have been resolved with the removal of the tumor. Thank you Dr. Wolter and the technology of western medicine!

But what I was most surprised and pleased to learn was the level of integration of acupuncture and alternative medicine into the practice and philosophy of a facility as prestigious as the Mayo clinic. Their literature promotes acupuncture for the use of body pain, headaches, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, depression, weight loss, neuropathy and muscle weakness.

Not only are they integrating licensed acupuncturists and acupuncture trained physicians into their staff, the Mayo Clinic is becoming a leader in the field of acupuncture research and they are conducting clinical trials on various acupuncture protocols. The Scottsdale campus is now conducting a clinical trial in the use of electroacupuncture for the treatment of xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients following radiotherapy. Click here for more information on that clinical trial.

In 2006, the Mayo clinic conducted a clinical trial on the use of acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia and concluded that acupuncture provided not only pain relief but also an improvement in fatigue and anxiety associated with fibromyalgia.

In 2009 results were published on the efficacy of acupuncture in prevention of postoperative nausea in cardiac surgery patients. Acupuncture was performed 0.5 to 3 hours before surgery on the acupuncture group. A control group received solely standard postoperative care The acupuncture group had a significantly lower incidence of nausea compared with the control group. The acupuncture group also had a significantly lower score of nausea severity than the control group.

According to the Mayo clinic website: “Acupuncture can be helpful as a stand-alone treatment to provide pain relief, as well as to help maintain general health and well-being, increase energy and improve mood in healthy individuals.” I see this as a welcome change to the disease based thinking of western medicine and a trend to promoting preventative medicine for which eastern medicine has always been best known for.

They have even come out with the publication “Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine”. Reviews are mixed as to whether or not enough in depth information makes this a viable tool for those educated in alternative medicine, but I see the effort as valuable in bringing the best of the east to the best of the west!

About the Author: Joyce Marley is a licensed acupuncturist that provides acupuncture therapy in New Hartford, NY. She writes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health articles about acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Posted by Joyce Marley at 05:25 PM | Mayo Clinic Acupuncture: The Best of the West Embraces the East