Temporomandibular Disorders and Traditional Chinese Medicine: Part I – Conceptual Perspectives

Background: Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is a multifactorial condition affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), masticatory muscles, and associated structures, resulting in pain, limited movement, and joint sounds. Its prevalence is high worldwide, with considerable variability across regions, genders, and age groups. TMD imposes significant economic and quality-of-life burdens, and its aetiology involves complex interactions of physical, psychoso-cial, and behavioural factors.Objectives: This study aims to examine TMD from both Western and Traditional Chinese Medi-cine (TCM) perspectives, highlighting anatomical, biomechanical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects, and providing a foundation for evidence-based integrative management.Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, covering TMJ anatomy and biomechanics, TMD classification, causes, conventional diagnosis and treatment, and TCM ap-proaches including acupuncture, herbal medicine, Taijiquan, Qigong, and Tui Na. The study em-phasizes both structural-functional considerations in Western medicine and systemic, holistic concepts in TCM.Results: Western medicine focuses on clinical history, physical examination, imaging, and con-ventional therapies, including pharmacological, physiotherapeutic, and surgical interventions. TCM identifies syndromes related to Qi, Blood, Liver, Kidney, and pathogenic factors, offering holistic strategies to address systemic imbalances contributing to TMD. Both approaches provide complementary insights, with TCM emphasizing prevention, individualized treatment, and in-tegration of mind-body practices.Conclusions: TMD is a complex disorder with multifactorial origins. Understanding its patho-physiology through both Western and TCM lenses provides a comprehensive framework for integrative management. This foundation supports the subsequent evidence-based analysis pre-sented in Part 2, which explores the efficacy of TCM interventions in TMD treatment.