Trigeminal Neuralgia (facial nerve pain)

Trigeminal Neuralgia is pain in the face that can last from seconds to days. Recurring attacks will get longer each time it occurs. Sudden facial spasms on one or more of the three branches of nerves (trigeminal).

Comes suddenly in a shocking spasming fashion, extremely painful. Most common is the Zygomatic and the mandibular branches. The orbital is less common.

Do not puncture on patients trigger point.

Try to find out what triggers: emotional stress, weather, food, talking.

Chinese Medicine Differentiation -

Wind-Heat, Wind-Cold, Toxic Heat, Qi and Blood stagnation

Orbital Pain Acupuncture  – Bladder 2, Gall bladder 8, 14, Large Intestine 4, Stomach 8, 4

Zygomatic  Pain Acupuncture – Stomach 2, Small Intestine 18, Large Intestine 4, 20, Gall bladder 3

Mandibular Pain Acupuncture – Ren 24, Jia Cheng Jiang (even with Ren 24 below the corners of the lips), SJ 17, Stomach 44, Large Intestine 4

- wind- Gall bladder 20

- Qi and Blood stagnation – Spleen 6, Liver 3

*Sedating methods- do not over manipulate, longer calmer stimulation.

Alternative Treatment Methods for Trigeminal Neuralgia  

Ear Acupuncture - facial, mandible, frontal, shenmen

injection therapy - vit B1 and B12, Yan Hu Suo, preference is to inject subcutaneously on the trigger point