Temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) is a condition affecting the area where the lower part of the jaw connects to the sides of the skull that impairs the normal function and sensation in the face and jaw. TMJ can be very painful, and the pain can spread to the ears, neck and shoulders.

The main symptoms of TMJ are facial and jaw pain; neck pain and headache; popping and clicking noises with jaw movement; pain in the joints of the face when yawning or chewing food; facial swelling with pain radiating to the ear; deviation of the jaw to one side of the face; limitation in opening the mouth; locked jaw; and swallowing difficulties. In some chronic and severe cases, patients can experience tinnitus, earache, poor hearing, vertigo, and poor vision or lack of visual focus.

To date, modern medicine has not defined all the causes of TMJ. However, certain dental and medical procedures; poor sleeping habits; poor oral habits; external injury; joint disease such as arthritis; and severe mental and emotional stress can all precipitate or aggravate TMJ.

Mild cases of TMJ sometimes resolve themselves over time without any treatment. For more severe cases, dental guards can help to alleviate facial and jaw tension, but these do not appear to offer a long-term solution. Surgical treatments have been proven to have very poor effect.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) views TMJ as a disorder of the stomach and liver channel. The stomach channel flows through both sides of the face and jaw, while the energy of the liver meridian is in charge of the healthy function of the ligaments and tendons. Disorder of any organ alters the circulation of the energy and blood in the related channels, which in turn disturbs the function of the associated musculoskeletal tissues. In the case of TMJ, poor stomach energy and obstructed liver contribute to the structural damage of the face and jaw joints. Alcohol and poor-quality food, especially oily, hot, greasy food, are frequently the culprits that damage the stomach energy, while emotional stress is the main cause of liver-energy obstruction.

Currently, acupuncture remains the most effective modality for successfully treating TMJ. Results can be achieved quite rapidly when acupuncture is combined with herbal and nutritional medicine and lifestyle changes. I have found magnetic therapy to be another very useful tool.

Each patient needs to be assessed individually in order to identify the cause of TMJ. Patients who suffer severe nerve pain associated with the condition must be treated differently again, as more specific nerve-repairing herbs and nutrients are necessary. Magnesium is one mineral commonly used in the treatment of TMJ as it relaxes the muscles and ligaments, allowing the patients to be more receptive towards the treatment.

If the cause of the TMJ is more external, osteopathy and Bowen therapy can also be very effective.

This article was first published in the magazine “Nature and Health”

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