Anxiety and jaw tension: How can acupuncture help?
Anxiety and jaw tension (TMJ, teeth grinding, clenching): How they’re linked and how acupuncture can help
Anxiety doesn’t just affect your mind—it can also show up in your body, especially around the jaw. If you’ve found yourself clenching your teeth, grinding your jaw, or experiencing pain or tightness in your mouth and face, this is often a physical manifestation of stress and anxiety.
Why it happens: Anxiety and muscle tightness
Anxiety can cause your body to stay in a state of tension, even when you’re trying to relax. Your jaw muscles are particularly vulnerable to this because they’re part of the body’s overall fight-or-flight response, bracing for danger. Here’s why it happens:
- Muscle tightness → Anxiety triggers muscle tightness, often starting with the jaw, and it’s not always something we notice consciously.
- Teeth grinding and clenching → This involuntary action often occurs at night while you’re sleeping, but some people also do it during the day when stressed.
- Headaches → Chronic tension can also lead to jaw-related tension headaches or migraines.
Chinese Medicine perspective: Liver Qi Stagnation and Internal Wind
In Chinese Medicine, anxiety-related jaw tension is often related to Liver Qi Stagnation or Internal Wind:
- Liver Qi Stagnation: Anxiety, stress, and frustration can cause the Liver Qi (the energy associated with the Liver) to become stuck, which can manifest as physical tension in the body, including the jaw.
- Internal Wind: When Liver Qi stagnates, it can lead to Internal Wind (restlessness or chaotic movement) that causes involuntary actions like teeth grinding or clenching.
How acupuncture helps with jaw tension
Acupuncture offers several benefits for releasing tension and addressing the root causes of jaw issues:
✅ Releases muscle tension: Acupuncture helps to stimulate specific points that release tightness in the jaw and facial muscles.
✅ Improves circulation: Acupuncture points can improve blood flow to the area, helping to reduce inflammation and discomfort.
✅ Calms the nervous system: Acupuncture helps to activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, allowing you to relax and reduce the tension associated with anxiety.
Key acupuncture points for jaw tension include:
- Stomach 7 (Xiaguan): Located near the jaw, this point can help relieve TMJ and jaw pain.
- Gallbladder 20 (Fengchi): This point releases tension from the neck and head, helping with headaches and jaw tightness.
- Liver 3 (Taichong): Helps to smooth Liver Qi and release stagnation that can lead to jaw clenching.
If jaw tension is making you feel uncomfortable, anxious, or restless, acupuncture can help free those physical, mental or emotional blockages.
At Village Healing Centre in Curl Curl, we’re here to help restore balance to your mind and body, so you can feel relaxed and free from unnecessary tension.
If you’re in the Northern Beaches of Sydney and you’re curious about acupuncture for anxiety and jaw tension, we’d love to help you. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
📍 Find us in Curl Curl (Sydney Northern Beaches)
📞 Call us at (02) 9938 2182
📅 Book your appointment
