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An electroacupuncture treatment for TMJ - Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, June, 2003 by Honora Lee Wolfe

C/o Blue Poppy Press * 5441 Western Ave. #2 * Boulder, Colorado 80301 USA www.bluepoppy.com

Chu Qin and Han Zhao-cheng published an article titled, "The Treatment of 49 Cases of TMJ Syndrome with Distant Needling Plus Extremely Short Wave [Electrical Stimulation]." This article appeared in issue #6, 2002 of the Shan Dong Zhong Yi Yao Za Zhi (Shandong Journal of Chinese Medicine & Medicinals) on page 348. Because TMJ syndrome is such a common problem and acupuncture generally is effective for its treatment, a description of the most important parts of that article is given below.

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All 49 patients in this study met the diagnostic criteria for TMJ syndrome published by Ma Xu-ju et al. in issue #4, 1985 of the Zhong Hua Kou Kong Yi Xue Za Zhi (Chinese Journal of Stomatology). Among these 49, there were 22 males and 27 females aged 21-56 years. In 42 cases, the condition was unilateral, and in the other seven cases it was bilateral. The course of disease ranged from seven days to 10 years. Symptoms included TMJ aching and pain, stiffness and difficulty opening the mouth wide, and lack of strength when chewing. In addition, there was pressure pain in the muscles in the affected area.

Treatment method

He Gu (LI 4), Wai Guan (TB 5), Yang Ling Quan (GB 34), and Tai Chong (Liv 3) were all needled bilaterally with the patients lying on their backs. 1.5 inch fine needles were inserted 0.5-1 inch in depth and manipulated with even supplementing-even draining hand technique. In addition, the needles were stimulated with extremely short wave electroacupuncture. The frequency used was 40.68Mhz, and the wave form was 10cm X 10cm. The current was 70mA. This produced a slightly hot and heavy sensation at these points. Treatment lasted 20 minutes and was given once each day, with 10 days equaling one course of treatment. Treatment effects were tabulated after two courses of such treatment.

Treatment outcomes

Cure was defined as the subjective reporting of the disappearance of all symptoms with return to normal movement, opening, and chewing function of the jaw(s) and the absence of any spots painful to pressure in the previously affected areas. Marked effect was defined as basic disappearance of subjective symptoms, return to normal opening of the mouth, however, still some slight discomfort when opening the mouth very wide. Some effect was defined as remission of some but not all of the subjective symptoms. No effect meant that there was no change from before to after treatment in the subjective symptoms. Based on these criteria, 32 patients were cured, 11 got a marked effect, three got some effect, and three got no effect. This resulted in a total effectiveness rate of 93.9%.

Discussion

According to the Chinese authors, the cause of this condition is not entirely clear. They believe it is due to some combination of external contraction of wind cold, loss of regulation of the mind and emotions, and/or external injury to the channel sinews. Needling distant points on the four extremities can treat conditions of the head and face since the branches of the channels and vessels of the three hand and foot yang channels travel to the face and head. In particular, the Ling Shu (Spiritual Axis) chapter titled, "Channels & Vessels," says that both the gallbladder foot shao yang and triple burner hand shao yang vessels are able to treat mandibular joint pain. Yang Ling Quan and Wai Guan are able to course and free the flow of the shao yang channel qi, thus insuring that the sinews in the region of the head are not attacked and harassed by evils. They out-thrust and course wind, quicken the blood, and free the flow of the network vessels. Hence they are able to free the flow and disinhibit the temperoma ndibular joint and stop pain. When used together, He Gu and Tai Chong can strengthen this coursing of wind and free the flow of the network vessels. According to Drs. Chu and Han, extremely short wave electrical stimulation promotes the circulation of blood in the affected area in order to relax muscular spasm, decrease nervous excitation, and reduce inflammation resulting in pain. In addition, Drs. Chu and Han say that sufferers of TMJ syndrome commonly also experience headache, dizziness, and tinnitus and that needling these distant points can eliminate these symptoms as well.

Translator's Comment

While there are other possible treatments for this common condition, electroacupuncture is relatively popular in the US and, thus, any new treatment for a common condition using a therapy that is widely practiced in the West is a welcome addition to the literature. Also, I appreciate effective treatments that incorporate all fairly simply, common, easy to locate points. Here, also, are two Yuan/Source points, one Luo/Network point, and one He/Uniting point, all of which are powerful points for coursing the qi, calming the spirit, and treating the head as well as the sinews. In my personal clinical experience, one could even get a powerful result with alternating either pair of points in consecutive, closely spaced treatments, if patients are sensitive to needle therapy.

Health Care Industry

An electroacupuncture treatment for TMJ - Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, June, 2003 by Honora Lee Wolfe

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