Clinical Case: Hemifacial Spasm

Clinic Case:

Patient: Diazellna, female, 52 years old, manager at a large company.

Condition: Right-sided hemifacial spasm for more than three months.

Initial visit: July 16, 2025.

Medical History:

Six months ago, the patient frequently worked overtime, often going to bed after 3 a.m. and sleeping only four hours per night. She began experiencing muscle twitching in her right eyelid, which gradually spread to the entire right side of her face. The spasms varied in intensity and stopped during sleep. Seeking Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment, she visited the ANC Clinic and was treated by Dr. Chen.

Western Medicine Diagnosis:

No abnormalities detected; all test results were normal.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis:

Facial muscle spasm (“Mian Ji Kuang Dong”).

Treatment Principle: Tonify Qi and blood, and nourish the meridians and tendons.

Acupuncture Prescription:

Points used: Yangbai (GB14), Sibai (ST2), Xiaguan (ST7), Dicang (ST4), Hegu (LI4), Xuehai (SP10), and Taichong (LR3), among others.

Treatment Results:

After four treatments, the patient reported a comfortable sensation on the right side of her face.

After seven treatments, the frequency of daytime spasms decreased, and the intervals between them lengthened.

After twelve treatments, the frequency of spasms significantly reduced, with intervals extending to over 30–60 minutes, and the spasms were no longer frequent.

Dr. Chen’s Analysis:

Hemifacial spasm is a paroxysmal, involuntary twitching of the muscles on one side of the face. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it falls under the categories of “Facial Wind” and “Muscle Twitching and Spasms.” In this case, overwork and exhaustion consumed the patient’s Yin and blood, leading to blood deficiency and poor nourishment of the tendons and vessels, which resulted in facial twitching.

Acupoints such as Yangbai, Xiaguan, and Dicang, located on the head and face, help regulate Qi and blood in the facial meridians. Hegu, the Yuan-Primary point of the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand Yangming, connects the hand to the head and face — hence the saying “For face and mouth issues, use Hegu.” The Liver Meridian travels through the cheeks, and Taichong, the Yuan-Primary point of the Liver Meridian, when combined with Hegu (known together as the “Four Gates”), helps regulate Qi flow — when Qi moves smoothly, blood circulates properly. Xuehai replenishes Qi and blood and nourishes the muscles and tendons. The combined use of these points effectively relieves hemifacial spasm and restores facial comfort.