Yifan Feng, OMD, L.Ac, Hongyan Li，MD(CN)，L.Ac, Hongmei Li, OMD, L.Ac

Patient: 59 year old male, 5’10’, 183lb

The patient had trigeminal neuralgia for 6 months. It started when he was riding a motorcycle without a helmet. At the onset of symptoms he noticed slight pain and numbness in his right eyebrow when he was putting on clothes. The pain and numbness expanded to his nose and cheek, making it such that light touch or brushing over the eyebrow caused sudden severe pain and numbness in the area to the right of the bridge of the nose, and his right cheek. He went to his doctor, who wanted him to take cortisone medication and injections, but he wanted to try acupuncture and TCM to improve his trigeminal neuralgia condition.

Physical Examination: Swelling and redness was apparent on the right side of the bridge of the nose. There were tender spots in his right eyebrow, right side of nose, and right cheek regions. He had a red tongue, with a yellow- greasy coating. His pulse was slippery.

Method of Treatment: Acupuncture was used, needling BL2 (Cuanzhu), SJ23 (Sizhukong), ST2 (Si Bai), LI20 (Yinxiang), and ST8 (Touwei). The patient came for treatment 2 times a week for 3 weeks, and then once a week until the condition was resolved.

Results: After the first 4 treatments the patient felt the pain and numbness in his right eyebrow and nose has decreased in severity and frequency. After 10 treatments the patient felt almost fully recovered from the symp- toms.

Discussion: Acupuncture treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is effective, reducing pain in the face, eyes, nose and cheeks. Traditional acupuncture points like BL2, SJ23, ST2, LI20, ST8 can improve a patient’s symptoms. Trigeminal neuralgia is a hypersensitivity of the trigeminal nerve (CNV), which causes pain and numbness near one’s eyebrow, nose, and cheek. Acupuncture can help to decrease the sensitivity of these regions, and help patients improve and recover.