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.

UsingTraditional Acupuncture Before and After Surgical Trauma

There are a variety of ways to project more positive surgical outcome before surgery, and to speed up recovery after the trauma of surgery. Using Traditional Acupuncture is high on the list. It is safe, efficient, cost-effective and has amazingly fast results. Receiving Acupuncture pre-operative is smart and pro-active. Acupuncture received before surgery: 1) Decreases pain and inflammation. 2) Strengthens immunity. 3) Offers a better surgical outcome. 4) Affords the body to heal more quickly. 5) Decreases wound recovery time.

Acupuncture received after surgery 1) Breaks up scar tissue. 2) Speeds up recovery time. 3) Reduces pain levels. 4) Decreases inflammation, swelling, discoloration and bruising. 5) Improves mobility. 6) Reduces and ends numbness and tingling. 7) Reduces fluid retention and puffiness. 8) Strengthens the body and areas operated upon, a limb, leg, arm, knee or shoulder. 9) Reduces adhesions and scars. 10) Breaks up scar tissue.

Case Report: Photo of BEFORE and AFTER Acupuncture: A female in her mid-thirties had knee surgery a few days before seeing me. She needed to travel by airplane from the East Coast to return home on the West Coast. Her knee and leg had inflammation (her leg was twice the size of her other leg), fluid retention, bruising, discoloration and she was experiencing severe pain.  She could barely walk. She had two days to change her condition in order to make her flight; otherwise, her doctor would forbid flying. She was looking for relief and immediate results.

This photograph shows the before Acupuncture treatment, then after her treatment. The difference is visibly astounding. She had one more treatment the following day and then was able to receive 'the all-clear' from her doctor. 

Our bodies require time to heal after any surgical invasion. For the body, it doesn't matter how insignificantly small a procedure may have been termed, such as wart removal, teeth extraction, or cleaning out scar tissue. 'Going under the knife' triggers a variety of protective, physical responses. Symptoms occur such as 1) Pain -- levels of pain intensity will vary from person to person. Pain can be intense, moderate, or manageable. Pain will be concentrated at the site of the procedure, or travel to distant parts, or encompass the entire body. 2) Inflammation and swelling of soft tissue and/or of organs is a common feature. 3) Skin, soft tissue, redness, discoloration, and bruising occur at the site or encompass larger bodily areas. 4) Scar tissue build-up at the surgical site is inevitable. 5) The inability to move a limb or the area where operated on is a given. The area is tender, stiff, and sore; it mustn't be expressed, cleaning of wounds are surgical-specific. 6) Numbness or tingling is common. This happens with limbs, for expample after a rotator cuff operation. The hands and fingers, usually on one side, will become numb with tingling sensations running from the shoulder into the fingertips. The sensation is uncomfortable and even painful and limits mobility. 7) Weakness is experienced in the area operated upon. If it's a limb, you won't be able to move it, lift it, or make use of it. Everything is dependent on the severity and type of operation, and the condition and constitution of the patient. 8) Fluid retention and puffiness around the operated site are common. 9) Adhesions and scars often form at the surgical site. They impinge free movement, illicit pain, and retard recovery.


Other natural things you can do to assist your healing: 1) Drink water - drinking copious amounts of water helps rid the body of chemical and toxin build-up from surgery and hydrates all cells. 2) Manage your scar with Vitamin enriched oils, such as Vitamin E. 4) Take the Homeopathic Remedy Arnica 30C pre and post-operative. Also, use Hypericum 30C and Arnica Cream for topical areas for bruising and discoloration when permissible. 5) Eat nutritionally enriching foods, and eat 'for your blood type.' The correct nutritional diet will ensure wound recovery time will be lessened. 6) Take a Probiotic, such as yogurt without added sugar. Avoid alcohol. 7) Take Vitamin supplements. 8) Cough often if you were given anesthesia. Anesthesia hampers normal breathing and suppresses the urge to cough. Mucous can build up in your lungs after surgery. One complication after surgery is a collapsed lung. 9) Have outside support to help you thru the initial healing. This is particularly important for all major surgeries and for lesser ones such as laser eye surgery, shoulder or knee surgery.

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