Trigeminal neuralgia — mandibular branch
StarEssentials of Chinese Acupuncture (Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing Colleges of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1980) — the standard prescriptions of the Chinese colleges.
Points
-
Stomach point in front of the ear; local point over the jaw joint
-
Stomach point at the angle of the jaw; local point
-
Conception Vessel point below the lower lip; local point for the chin
-
Ying-Spring of the Stomach; distal Yangming point for the lower face
Needling Safety
Cited hazards for these points. Tick what applies to the patient to see the cautions that follow from it.
Treatment Principle
Relieve facial pain by combining points over the affected division with a distal point (no method is stated in the book).
Indications
Method
The book lists the points without stating a needling method.
⚠ Cautions
New facial pain, numbness, or pain in a younger patient warrants neurological assessment to exclude secondary causes (e.g. multiple sclerosis, tumour, dental disease).
About
One of three textbook prescriptions for trigeminal neuralgia, here for pain in the mandibular (third) branch over the jaw and chin.
Rationale
ST7, ST6 and CV24 lie over the territory of the third branch, and ST44 on the foot reaches the lower face through the Stomach channel. The book gives no explanation for this appendix; the rationale follows the local-plus-distal principle it applies to headache.
Clinical Notes
The book gives this as a brief appendix to headache, describing a fleeting, paroxysmal burning pain in the face within the territory of the trigeminal nerve, without a pattern differentiation or needling method. It also offers ear acupuncture with points matching the painful area.
Sources
- Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, et al. Essentials of Chinese Acupuncture. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1980. Chapter III, Trigeminal neuralgia, p. 338.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Trigeminal neuralgia — mandibular branch.
No notes yet.