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Medical Care in China

Trigeminal neuralgia
Treatment in China

Provide a clear and complete coordinated pathway from expert assessment to treatment and rehabilitation.

Special TCM TechniquesThe synergistic application of various TCM techniques such as acupuncture, needle knife therapy, and massage.

Precision pain interventionDeveloping plans for neck, shoulder, back, leg pain and neuropathic pain.

Postoperative rehabilitationCombines traditional Chinese medicine treatment with modern rehabilitation to promote functional recovery.

Personalized treatmentTreatment:Plans are developed based on the patient's condition, physical condition, and treatment needs.

Condition Guide

About Trigeminal neuralgia

Understand the condition, common triggers and treatment options that may require specialist assessment.

Disease Introduction

Introduction: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN, commonly known as facial pain) is a neuropathic pain mediated by the V cranial nerve. It is divided into primary (classic type) and secondary type. Primary type is mostly caused by blood vessels in the cerebellopontine angle compressing the nerve root into the brainstem area. Secondary type is seen in tumors, multiple sclerosis, etc. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is classified as facial pain and headache.
Pathological Mechanism: The pulsation of the responsible blood vessel compresses the trigeminal nerve root, causing demyelination, exposure of axons, short circuits between nerve fibers, and ectopic abnormal discharges; even slight stimulation can trigger explosive pain signals. Traditional Chinese Medicine Pathogenesis: Wind, fire, phlegm, and blood stasis obstruct the three Yang meridians of the head and face; prolonged illness depletes Yin and blood, resulting in a mixture of deficiency and excess, and pain arises from the constriction and obstruction of the meridians.
Core symptoms: Paroxysmal severe pain in the trigeminal nerve distribution area on one side of the face, described as electric shock-like, knife-like, or tearing pain; sudden onset and cessation, lasting from a few seconds to 1–2 minutes; trigger points are present, which can be induced by washing the face, brushing teeth, talking, or being exposed to wind; painful facial muscle twitching may be present; the patient may be completely normal during the intervals; as the course of the disease progresses, the frequency of attacks increases and the intervals shorten.

Cutting-edge high-precision diagnostic and treatment technologies

Microvascular decompression (MVD): The gold standard of skull base microsurgery, which isolates the responsible blood vessel from the trigeminal nerve root, preserves nerve function, and achieves radical cure of the etiology.
Image-guided balloon compression of the Gasserian ganglion: Minimally invasive percutaneous puncture, balloon mechanical compression of the Gasserian ganglion, inhibiting abnormal discharge of pain fibers, suitable for elderly patients who cannot tolerate craniotomy.
CT-guided pulsed radiofrequency modulation of the Gasserian ganglion: Alternating electric field modulation of the ganglion, non-destructive, reduces nerve excitability, suitable for relapsed and mild cases.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife): Precisely focuses radiation to suppress abnormal nerve root discharges. It is non-invasive and suitable for people who cannot tolerate punctures and surgeries.
Precise nerve block of peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve: Imaging localizes the supraorbital, infraorbital, and mental nerve branches to quickly block pain transmission.

Care Overview

Trigeminal neuralgia Treatment in China

The medical team will develop a personalized protocol based on the pathology type, stage, genetic test, previous treatment history, and the patient's physical condition.

1. Advantages of Western minimally invasive surgery: Endoscopic microvascular decompression (MVD) can remove the cause of the disease and has a high long-term remission rate; microballoon compression and pulsed radiofrequency ablation are minimally invasive and have a rapid onset of action, making them suitable for elderly and frail patients; MRTA can accurately distinguish between primary and secondary lesions. Limitations: MVD carries potential risks associated with craniotomy; minimally invasive procedures may leave facial numbness and have a long-term recurrence rate.
2. Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture: It holistically regulates the meridians, calms the liver and extinguishes wind, improving paroxysmal pain and emotional anxiety; it is low-invasive and suitable for initial mild cases and postoperative residual pain. Limitations: It cannot relieve the mechanical compression of blood vessels on nerve roots; typical vascular compression type cannot be replaced by surgical evaluation and surgery alone; strong stimulation of trigger points can induce severe pain.
3. Core advantages of integrating traditional Chinese and Western medicine : ① Layered differentiation: distinguishing between simple neurological dysfunction and vascular structural compression, avoiding delays in radical treatment due to conservative treatment alone;
②Perioperative coordination throughout the entire process: reducing pain and anxiety before surgery, and improving numbness and residual pain after surgery;
③ Treating both the symptoms and the root cause: Western medicine treats the symptoms (vascular compression, demyelination of nerves, ectopic discharge), while traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture treats the root cause (wind, phlegm, blood stasis, and disharmony of meridians).
④ Wider applicability: For elderly patients, those with complex underlying diseases, and those who cannot tolerate general anesthesia and craniotomy, a minimally invasive interventional treatment combined with acupuncture can be used.

Network of partner hospitals

Recommended Hospitals

Selected leading medical centers with strong specialties and international patient services.

Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Clinical Medical College of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Capital Medical University

Beijing · Partner Hospital

Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Clinical Medical College of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Capital Medical University

TCM & Acupuncture

The hospital is a national center for the development of traditional Chinese medicine, a national clinical research base for traditional Chinese medicine, and a national center for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine. It has key disciplines of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, key medical specialties of the Beijing Municipal Hospital Management Center's "Sailing" Plan, as well as 13 national advantageous specialties of traditional Chinese medicine and 16 key specialties of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is a base for international cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine, a base for disease prevention and treatment, and a clinical base for emergency treatment of traditional Chinese medicine. It is also a Class A designated medical institution for Beijing's basic medical insurance.

Year Founded: 1956
Beds: 1400

Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Second Clinical Medical Research Institute of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences)

Beijing · Partner Hospital

Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Second Clinical Medical Research Institute of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences)

TCM & AcupunctureRehabilitation

The hospital is among the first batch of "mentor-type" national TCM medical center creation units, national regional medical center export units, and national TCM inheritance and innovation center construction units. It is a national TCM oncology medical center, a TCM diabetes specialty center, and a TCM anorectal disease specialty center. It is also an ISO9001 quality management certified unit, a member of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine, a key unit for the national TCM service trade "pilot program," and one of the first national TCM service export bases. It ranks first nationwide in the Fudan University ranking of comprehensive TCM (oncology) departments.

Year Founded: 1955
Beds: 407

Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Xiyuan Hospital)

Beijing · Partner Hospital

Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Xiyuan Hospital)

TCM & Acupuncture

The hospital is a network hospital of the National Health Commission's International Emergency Rescue Center and a core unit for national clinical medical research and key discipline construction in traditional Chinese medicine for cardiovascular diseases. It ranks second nationwide in the Fudan University ranking of comprehensive traditional Chinese medicine (cardiovascular) fields. The hospital has been selected as one of the top 50 in China's cardiovascular disease science and technology influence list and is a national clinical research base for traditional Chinese medicine and a national drug clinical trial institution.

Year Founded: 1955
Beds: 800

Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (The First Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine )

Beijing · Partner Hospital

Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (The First Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine )

TCM & AcupunctureInternal Medicine

The hospital was among the first batch of national medical centers (TCM guidance category) and is a demonstration base for the construction of a national comprehensive reform pilot zone for the development of TCM. It ranks 4th nationwide in the Fudan University ranking of comprehensive TCM (brain diseases). The hospital's Department of Brain Diseases is the leading unit of the National Collaborative Group for Emergency Brain Diseases under the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a key discipline and specialty construction unit for TCM brain diseases.

Year Founded: 1958
Beds: 1540

The First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Tianjin · Partner Hospital

The First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

TCM & AcupunctureRehabilitation

The hospital is a national medical center construction unit, a national clinical research center for traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, a national regional medical center construction export hospital, a key traditional Chinese medicine hospital of the national traditional Chinese medicine inheritance and innovation project, a national traditional Chinese medicine clinical research base, a national regional traditional Chinese medicine (specialty) diagnosis and treatment center, a national traditional Chinese medicine service export base, a national-level traditional Chinese medicine quality control center under construction unit, and a national traditional Chinese medicine clinical teaching and training demonstration center. It ranks first in the country in the Fudan University ranking of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture disciplines.

Year Founded: 1954
Beds: 800

Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Shanghai · Partner Hospital

Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

TCM & Acupuncture

The hospital is a national model TCM hospital, one of the first batch of national TCM inheritance and innovation centers, and a national TCM clinical research base. It ranks 7th nationwide in the Fudan University ranking of comprehensive TCM (proctology) fields. The hospital's proctology department is a national key clinical specialty, a key high-level TCM discipline of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a leading TCM specialty. It is also an important component of the national intangible cultural heritage "Gu's Surgery."

Year Founded: 1960
Beds: 1750

Leading Specialists

Trusted Expertise Across Leading Specialties

Shi Dazhuo

Chief Researcher, Qihuang Scholar, Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Research Institute

TCM & Acupuncture

Research areas : myocardial repair after myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, chronic heart failure; Cutting-edge technologies: Qi-invigorating and blood-activating muscle-regenerating therapy for myocardial infarction, plaque-targeted regulation; Areas of expertise: coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure; Academic highlights: Principal investigator of a national key research and development project, multiple evidence-based studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese m

Affiliated Hospital Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Xiyuan Hospital)

Yin Lixin

Chief Physician

TCM & Acupuncture

Research area : Personalized treatment of colorectal and anal diseases using integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Specializes in treating: hemorrhoids, anal fistula, anal fissure, rectal prolapse, colorectal tumors, inflammatory bowel disease, radiation enteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, perianal skin diseases, rectovaginal fistula, and other anorectal and surgical diseases.

Affiliated Hospital Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Yao Yibo

Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor, Director of the Department of Anorectal Surgery, and the Fifth Generation Successor of the Gu Family Surgery

TCM & Acupuncture

-Research areas : functional constipation, gut microbiota, complex anal fistula, pelvic floor dynamic disorders. - Cutting-edge technologies: Sacral nerve modulation therapy for defecation disorders; minimally invasive treatment combining sutures and VAAFT; research on the pathogenesis of constipation in traditional Chinese medicine. - Areas of expertise: intractable functional constipation, high-level complex anal fistula, pelvic floor defecation disorders, and chronic perianal wounds. - Academic Highlig

Affiliated Hospital Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Zhang Jingchun

Professor , Deputy Director of Cardiovascular Department, specializing in Imperial Medicine and Palpitation Treatment

TCM & Acupuncture

Research areas: Imperial medicine, traditional Chinese medicine treatment of palpitations (arrhythmia), and research on Qing Dynasty imperial physician literature. Cutting-edge technology: Under the guidance of Academician Chen Keji, the three major official medical books of the Song Dynasty and the literature of imperial physicians of the Qing Dynasty were systematically organized. Based on the concept of "all diseases originate from the liver, and treating the liver is the first priority" of Tong Kuoqua

Affiliated Hospital Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Xiyuan Hospital)

Li Bin

Chief Physician, Professor

TCM & Acupuncture

Research areas : metabolic diseases, obesity, diabetes; cutting-edge technologies: fire needle warming and breaking theory, combined acupuncture and drug therapy for metabolic diseases; Areas of expertise: Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity; Academic highlights: Academic leader in the field of fire needle metabolic diseases; Core value: Building an integrated chronic disease management system that combines acupuncture and medication with lifestyle intervention for metabolic diseases.

Affiliated Hospital Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Clinical Medical College of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Capital Medical University

Liu Qingquan

Chief Physician, Professor

TCM & Acupuncture

Research areas : Traditional Chinese medicine emergency care, infectious diseases, and respiratory critical care; Cutting-edge technologies: Traditional Chinese medicine epidemic disease theory, and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment plans for sepsis. Areas of expertise: Severe pneumonia, sepsis, fever of unknown origin; Academic highlights: Head of the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Epidemic Prevention and Control Base; Core value: Establishing a TCM-based emergency care

Affiliated Hospital Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Clinical Medical College of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Capital Medical University

Patient Stories

See the Next Step Through Patient Journeys

Postherpetic neuralgia – A Filipino elderly man's palliative care helps him overcome

CASE 01

PATIENT JOURNEY

Postherpetic neuralgia – A Filipino elderly man's palliative care helps him overcome "pain in his lower back".

TCM & Acupuncture

Patient records: Name: Maria Age: 68 Nationality: Filipino Diagnosis: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) Treatment Hospital: Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences When the pain becomes a memory, we help her regain peaceful nights. Maria, a 68-year-old retired teacher from Cebu, Philippines, developed shingles on the left side of her chest and back three months ago. After the rash healed, the real nightmare began. The original shingles area was left with intense, burning, and stabbing p

View case details →

CASE 02

PATIENT JOURNEY

Melting the "Frozen" Shoulders—An Indonesian Businessman's Painless Restart

TCM & AcupunctureRehabilitation

Patient records: Name: Budi Age: 52 years old Nationality: Indonesia Diagnosis: Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) Treatment Hospital: Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine When his arm became "displayable," we found the key to restarting it. 52-year-old Budi is a successful Chinese businessman in Jakarta, spending most of his time working at a desk. Six months ago, he began experiencing a dull ache in his right shoulder, which he initially ignored. However,

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Cerebral Palsy in Children: Unlocking the

CASE 03

PATIENT JOURNEY

Cerebral Palsy in Children: Unlocking the "Compressed Spring"—A Kazakh Family Finds a Precise Answer in China

TCM & AcupunctureNeurologyPediatrics

Patient records Name: Alina Age: 5 years old Nationality: Kazakhstan Diagnosis: Spastic diplegia (cerebral palsy), GMFCS grade III Treatment Hospital: Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine For a family, the rehabilitation of a child with cerebral palsy is a marathon with no end in sight. When parents take their children around the world, only to hear time and again, "This is the only way," the despair is profound. Alina's story tells how we helped a family find tha

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Stroke Rehabilitation: When Language Becomes an Island—We Build a Cross-Cultural Rehabilitation Bridge for a Thai Painter

CASE 04

PATIENT JOURNEY

Stroke Rehabilitation: When Language Becomes an Island—We Build a Cross-Cultural Rehabilitation Bridge for a Thai Painter

TCM & AcupunctureRehabilitation

Patient records Name: Sophie Age: 65 Nationality: Thailand Diagnosis: Post-ischemic stroke sequelae (right middle cerebral artery supply area), Wernicke aphasia, right hemiplegia. Treatment Hospital: Neurorehabilitation Center, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University Case Study Theme: For overseas patients, the biggest obstacles to cross-border medical treatment are often not distance, but rather "information asymmetry" and "culture shock." They don't know how China's healthcare system works, whic

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Service Process

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Remote Consultations
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We accompany you to medical appointments and provide interpreting services, help arrange specialist consultations or surgery, assist with hospital admission and discharge, and help settle medical bills.
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We assist with notarisation of medical expense documents, airport drop-off, organisation and translation of medical records, remote rehabilitation guidance, and coordination of international referrals.

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Trigeminal neuralgiaTreatment in China

Trigeminal neuralgia Treatment in China

Recommended Hospitals

Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Clinical Medical College of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Capital Medical University

Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Second Clinical Medical Research Institute of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences)

Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Xiyuan Hospital)

Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (The First Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine )

The First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Trusted Expertise Across Leading Specialties

See the Next Step Through Patient Journeys

Postherpetic neuralgia – A Filipino elderly man's palliative care helps him overcome "pain in his lower back".

Melting the "Frozen" Shoulders—An Indonesian Businessman's Painless Restart

Cerebral Palsy in Children: Unlocking the "Compressed Spring"—A Kazakh Family Finds a Precise Answer in China

Stroke Rehabilitation: When Language Becomes an Island—We Build a Cross-Cultural Rehabilitation Bridge for a Thai Painter

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: Unveiling the Prophecy of a "Lifelong Wheelchair" - A Russian Engineer's Journey of "Neural Remodeling" in China

A clear, coordinated process for efficient cross-border care

Pre-Visit Services

Remote Consultations

Travel Arrangements

Comprehensive Support in China

Post-Visit Services

Get a Care Planand Cost Estimate.

Get a Care Plan and Estimate

Trigeminal neuralgia
Treatment in China

Get a Care Plan
and Cost Estimate.