TMJ Disorder

Under stressful situations, the sympathetic nervous system becomes activated, causing the masticatory muscles (masseter, temporalis, and medial/lateral pterygoid muscles) to contract and tense involuntarily. If accompanied by nocturnal bruxism, excessive pressure is continuously applied to the articular disc, increasing the risk of disc displacement and joint surface damage. Since psychological tension and pain often form a vicious cycle, stress management, along with symptom control, becomes a key pillar of treatment. In Korean medicine, stress is viewed as a state of stagnant energy. If the function of relaxing muscles is blocked, the muscles throughout the body cannot relax, and tension and pain become concentrated particularly around the temples and jaw. If the circulatory function of the meridians passing in front of the ears and the lower jaw deteriorates, the circulation of Qi and blood in these areas becomes stagnant. At Dongjedang, we release stagnant energy to resolve the root cause of internal tension, and use acupuncture needles with blade-shaped tips to directly release myofascial adhesions in the masticatory muscles, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of pain.