Wednesday, September 11, 2019

FACIAL ACUPUNCTURE FOR TMJ AND BELL'S PALSY





In ancient Asia centuries ago a sought after life pursuit was gaining longevity. Longevity was promoted thru "Right Exercise, Right Eating, Right Thinking, Right Actions," and generally balancing the body not only by eating particular foods suitable for the condition and constitution of the individual but by using herbs, taking sufficient water, having good elimination, and using T'ui-na (a hands-on therapy similar to Shiatsu) and employing Traditional Acupuncture.

Facial Acupuncture initially was a side product of a general body treatment. Today it is utilized as a full protocol for non-invasive Facial Rejuvenation, a 'facelift' without going under the knife. All meridians or energy channels pass thru the face. Needling activates not only the immediate site but areas distal. Besides producing a 'natural facial glow', benefits of Facial Acupuncture are excellent for conditions such as TMJ (temporomandibular joint), Bell's Palsy, and Facial Tics (TD or tardive dyskinesia).

About one-third of all adults experience TMJ sometime in their life. It is a disorder of the jaw and surrounding facial muscles of the jaw joint that control chewing and jaw movement. The temporomandibular joint is hung like a hinge on a door as it connects your jaw to your skull, with a point on either side of the jaw. Muscle controlling the jaw can become affected by various muscular strain, cramping, repetitive motions, and trauma. Grinding one's teeth or teeth clenching, are common off-shoots of TMJ disorder, as well as jaw pain, tenderness in the face, jaw area, neck, even shoulders, and around an ear, can become painful. Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw may be heard, while closing the mouth may become difficult. Myofascial pain is characterized by localized hypersensitive spots - taut muscle fibers.

Traditional Acupuncture uses needling sites which include the points at the jaw hinge and lines following the facial contour. Meridians passing thru affected areas are the Small Intestines, Triple Warmer, Stomach, Large Intestines, and Gall Bladder. In addition, there are distal points in the hands and arms or feet and legs to each of those Meridians that may also be utilized in treatment. Relief in most cases I have worked with is almost instantaneous. There is markedly reduced pain, swelling, cramping, to the total absence of any symptoms. A treatment's effect may last indefinitely, to lasting weeks. Exacerbation of joint movement, repetitive motions, emotional stress, and other factors can re-trigger the problem.

British and American studies reinforce these facts. Acupuncture reduces pain levels thru direct stimulation of the nerves which in turn change the quality of signaling the nerve cells. Furthermore, endorphins, naturally occurring substances, block pain perception by the brain, and other biological actions take place. Muscle spasm is reduced. Clicking stops by relaxing lateral pterygoid muscles; lessening pressure on the anterior displaces force put upon the meniscus of the temporomandibular joint. Needles are inserted in areas of pain. Distal points may also be employed.

Facial Tics, known as tardive dyskinesia (TD) are also greatly relieved by receiving Traditional Acupuncture. TD is a disorder of uncontrollable muscle spasm in the face, torso and/or other body parts. Facial tics are generally viewed as a nuisance and not derivative of other major disorders by Western medicine. In East Asian Medicine that view is not held. Al unnatural movements of the body, emotions, and mind are symptomatic of 'something' energetically and/or biologically occurring. East Asian Medicine would also evaluate that TD is an off-shoot of Kidney Meridian and Kidney Organ Functions malfunction or harboring 'energetic' weakness. Such weaknesses left untreated will develop into 'conditions' then 'diseases', The body and mind are always recording everything that goes on it and around it.

Bell's Palsy is a condition of muscular weakness or paralysis on one side of the face. In some cases, the nerves on both sides of the face become afflicted. Ones face tends to droop, or become very stiff on the affected side. Bell's Palsy may occur after a stroke, or a viral infection such as chickenpox and shingles, genital herpes, cold sores, German measles, Cytomegalovirus infections, hand-foot-mouth disease, mumps, respiratory illnesses, and infectious mononucleosis. Other symptoms of this disorder are drooling, taste decline, changes in saliva and tear amount, difficulty making facial expressions, pain around the jaw or behind the ear on the afflicted side, headache, and rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on the troubled side of the face. The diagnosis of the various diseases will require other protocols in addition to using Traditional Acupuncture.

All three disorders - TMJ, Facial Tics and Bell's Palsy - are best served by immediate Facial Acupuncture treatment to reverse the condition.  Facial Acupuncture reduces and/or completely removes pain; it opens the pathways, relaxes facial muscles and the jaw; reduces and/or removes muscular strain and calms the parasympathetic nervous system.

One patient, Rachel Renee remarks, "I have struggled with partial facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy) my entire life. The nerves in my face never worked. After just one Acupuncture treatment with Dr. Wah, I could see my dimple on my lazy side. Her treatments have been truly life-altering for me! Every few weeks is enough to keep my face twitch-free and my self-image a little higher."

Visit me, Laila Wah, at www.lailawah.com and on Facebook and Youtube. You can create optimal health and happiness in your life.