| Acupuncture and Jaw Pain Acupuncture can be highly effective in treating various jaw pain problems. The cause of the jaw pain, whether it’s an injury or from TMJ or TMD is less of a concern than how long the condition has gone on. Regular acupuncture treatments are typically helpful in relieving the pain, even for the long term. In the paradigm of acupuncture, qi, or the body’s energy, flows through channels throughout the body. All channels have branches that run through the face, so a blockage here is common. Acupuncturists see the flow of qi in the channels much like water flowing in a river. When the qi is blocked, it is like building a dam on a river. The pressure builds up on one side and little or no water gets through on the other side. When this happens, symptoms of disease can occur. Pain is one such symptom. The acupuncturist will treat this pain by freeing up the blockage and moving the qi through the area to other areas of the body. Qi can become blocked for many reasons, including trauma, lifestyle, diet and a certain bodily predisposition. The acupuncturist will determine what caused the problem with a thorough intake and then base their treatment plan accordingly. The number and frequency of treatments will depend upon many factors, including the severity of pain, how long the pain has been going on and the overall constitution of the patient. The shorter the duration of the condition, typically the faster the condition resolves. The following is a list of studies on acupuncture and jaw pain. Hansen PE and Hansen JH (1983) Acupuncture and the treatment of chronic facial pain: a controlled cross-over trial, Headache 23:66-69 Raustia AM, Pohjola R and Virtanen KK (1985) Acupuncture compared with stomatognathic treatment for TMJ dysfunction. Part I: a randomized study, J Prosth Dent 54:581-585 Johansson A, Weenebereg B, Wagersten C and Haraldson T (1991) Acupuncture in the treatment of facial muscular pain Acta Odontol Scand 49:153-158 List T, Helkimo M, Andersson S an dCarlsson GE (1992) Acupuncture and occlusal splint therapy in the teament of craniomandibular disorders, Part I. A comparative study, Swed Dent J 16: 125-141 List T, Helkimo M (1992) Acupuncture and occlusal splint therapy in the treatment of craniomandibular disorders Part II. A one year follow-up study, Acta Odontol Scand 50:375-385 |
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