Ramsey Hunt Syndrome and Trigeminal Neuralgia

Ramsey Hunt Syndrome is facial paralysis caused from varicella-zoster virus infection of the 7th cranial nerve. At the onset there is severe pain and inflammation around the ear, which later can lead to facial paralysis. Many of my Touro classmates should remember a case of this early on in our education.

There are two patients coming in for Ramsey hunt syndrome currently. The patients are both about 3 months post onset. Dr. Chan says in the early stages is it important to clear heat with herbs such as wu gong and ju hua, but later stage nourish the blood and open the channels. The needles focus on opening up the channel, the local ones are directed the same as the other facial paralysis cases. Needle in the direction to lift the muscle or in the direction of the disease. Points are LI4, SJ 5, LI 20, Ren 24, St 2,4, Ashi in the local area.

There are a few patients coming in with trigeminal neuralgia, a disease known for the terrible pain it causes. They are all in the chronic stage, have been treated for a number of years, just coming back for maintenance every few months. One of them is a woman in her 60's, she's had this for 3 years. She mentioned the pain a constant burning, especially on the left side, and was worse with eating spicy foods or foods with a dispersing hot nature like or fa wu. Previous her pain was unbareable, she was almost to the point of asking the doctors to help her commit suicide. She has been coming for a 3 years, and the pain is under control. She still takes occasionally takes pain killers and is afraid to stop. Points are LI4, LI 10, Tai yang, GB 20, Du 20, ST 7, si bai, St 5, LI 20, Ren 24, ashi for pain. Direct the needles tip to the pain.