Mouth Painaccording to TCM

What is Mouth Pain?

Mouth pain encompasses a wide array of discomforts within the oral cavity, ranging from soreness in the gums, tongue, and inner cheeks to acute pain in the teeth and jaw. This condition can stem from various causes, including dental issues like cavities and gum disease, infections, mouth ulcers, and more systemic conditions such as vitamin deficiencies or oral cancer.

The experience of mouth pain can significantly affect an individual's ability to eat, speak, and maintain oral hygiene, making timely diagnosis and treatment essential for alleviating discomfort and preventing further health complications.

How Does TCM View Mouth Pain?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic perspective on mouth pain, attributing it to imbalances within the body's internal systems and external pathogenic factors. Unlike the localized treatment approach common in Western medicine, TCM considers oral discomfort as a symptom of broader disharmony.

Factors such as Qi Deficiency, Heat accumulation, Dampness, and Yin Deficiency can all contribute to the manifestation of pain in the mouth. TCM practitioners emphasize the importance of identifying the specific underlying pattern of disharmony to tailor the treatment effectively, aiming to restore balance and health not only in the mouth but throughout the entire body.

Acupoints for Mouth Pain

In addressing mouth pain, TCM turns to acupuncture as a key modality for treatment, pinpointing specific acupoints that can alleviate discomfort and restore harmony. Among these, Chongyang ST-42 plays a pivotal role, located on the foot where it can tonify the Stomach and the Spleen, calm the Mind, and remove obstructions from the Channel.

This acupoint's strategic position and actions make it particularly effective for treating mouth pain related to digestive imbalances and mental stress. By stimulating Chongyang ST-42, practitioners can help mitigate mouth pain while promoting overall well-being, showcasing TCM's integrated approach to health care.

See more details below about Chongyang ST-42, an acupoint used to address mouth pain.

Chongyang ST-42

Distal to Jiexi ST-41, at the highest point of the dorsum of foot, between the tendons of the extensor hallucis longus and the extensor digitorum longus, directly lateral to the point where the dorsalis pedis artery may be palpated. The point is bordered proximally by the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones and distally by the 2nd and 3rd cuneiform bones.