Are there alternative treatments for TMJ?

Some forms of alternative medicine, including acupuncture, may be useful in treating jaw pain, headaches, and other symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ. Among other studies, a small trial by researchers in Israel found that more than two-thirds of people with chronic TMJ experienced significant pain relief after 8 to 10 weeks of acupuncture. While other alternative treatments used for TMJ have not been well studied, many doctors believe that emotional stress provokes or worsens this condition. Taking steps to lower your stress level through meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation techniques, deep breathing, and exercise may also help reduce your TMJ symptoms.

Stress may contribute to the development of TMJ. Alternative treatments can be used to reduce stress. Techniques used include yoga, deep breathing exercises, and meditation. Progressive muscle relaxation is another technique. This involves stressing one muscle group at a time and then relaxing it. Visualization is another method. This entails picturing oneself in a calm and restful environment. Counseling aids in stress reduction by helping a person learn to recognize reasons for stress and how to cope. Biofeedback uses electronic monitoring to indicate when a muscle is stressed. The feedback is used to help a person learn to recognize and then reduce tension.