IDEAS TO HELP FAMILIES

Trigeminal Stimulation
(Relaxing and awakening a sleeping giant)

Objective:  To awakens and relax the trigeminal nerve.  This is accomplished by means of organized stimulation of the nerve, that is, by stimulating them in a way that follows their own organizational pathways.  The stimulation follows the organization of the nerve.  The brain will track the stimulation during this exercise and try to anticipate where the next sensation will be.

            The trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve emerging through the skull at the temple extending just behind the eyebrow, below the crown of the skull and above the cheekbone. The branches of the nerve include the ophthalmic division which effect the forehead, eyes, nose, temples, meninges (the membranes that envelope the brain and spinal cord), paranasal sinuses, and part of the nasal mucosa.  The maxillary division effects the upper jaw, teeth, lip, cheeks, maxillary sinuses, and nasal mucosa.  The mandibular division effects the lower jaw, teeth, lip, buccal mucosa, tongue, part of the external ear, auditory meatus, and meninges.

            The trigeminal nerve receives sensory sensation from the shoulders up; including the neck, face, scalp, and back of head.  It enhances speech, chewing, sinus development, all facial muscles & movement, and alleviate headaches, TMJ relieve facial tics, tactile defensiveness to the shoulders, neck and head, and paralysis.

  Procedure:

1.)    From the temple- directly forward following the eyebrow, to the midpoint between the eyebrows, the up an inch or so, back down to the midpoint between the eyebrows and back to the temple.

2.)    From the temple- first down, then forward across the cheekbone to the bridge of the nose and back to the temple.

3.)    From the temple- directly downward to the bottom
      edge of the cheekbone, then forward along the gum
      line to the middle of the upper lip and back along the
     same path to the temple.

4.)    From the temple- directly downward to the rearmost corner of the lower jaw then forward on a line on the gum line of the lower jaw to a point directly below the middle of the lower lip; again aiming for a spot on the gum line above the point of the chin.  Follow the same path back to the temple.

5.)    from the temple- directly back to a point just above the top of the ears, then curving back around the ears to the end of the bone and back to the temple.  This last pathway is not on the trigeminal nerve, but rather enhances the acoustic nerve via bone conduction.

This activity should be done twice daily.   Once to stimulate the surface and temperature nerves the other for the deep pressure nerve.  To stimulate the surface nerves use a feather; or, two or three finger tips while lightly (just verily touch the skin) following the procedure.  To stimulate the tempter nerves use hot/cold compresses and low setting on a blow dryer (simulates a warm breeze). For deep pressure (deep in the skin) using 2-3 finger tips deep rub/tap motion alternating hands (and side of face) with each tap.  This is a quick exercise you might want to count “one and two and three and four and five and six and seven and eight and” spoken in a brisk but conversational pace.  Look for the top two paths and the one behind the ear to take about eight taps on each side.   Paths along the upper and lower jaw should take a few more.  This exercise should not be painful. There should be a left-over feeling, kind of a tingle or buzzing or sense of vitality to the facial area.