Western Medicine believes that excruciating facial nerve pains (trigeminal neuralgia) may be associated with multiple sclerosis, however the cause of trigeminal neuralgia in Western Medicine is uncertain. Patients with trigeminal neuralgia may also experience facial twitching.

Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with Western Medicine involves anticonvulsant and pain killing drugs to suppress the pain. Various shots are injected directly into the nerve to try to stop the pain. Treatment is difficult because people become resistant to the drugs or are unable to tolerate a high enough dose to relieve the pain. When these pain killing drugs are unable to relieve the pain, surgery to cut the nerves are used as a last resort. When facial nerves are surgically destroyed to alleviate pain, it causes permanent numbness to a noticeable part of the face.

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that all meridian activity comes from the internal organs. If the internal organ’s activity is insufficient for the meridians, or if there is a blockage in the meridians, sharp pains result. To heal excruciating facial pains, the meridian channels must be opened to let them flow. Using powerful painkilling drugs causes damage to the liver. The liver controls the activity of the bowels, so if constipation results after taking drugs, liver damage has been done.

Traditional Chinese Medicine uses Acupuncture and herbal medicines to eliminate facial pains. Pain killing drugs or herbs are not used. When specific herbs are used to help the qi, blood, and internal organs, the meridian pains will resolve.