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Rooted

Nervous / Mental · also Musculoskeletal

TMJ / masticatory myofascial pain

4 plants

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Jaw-clack, morning masseter pain, and headache from clenching is common. Night guard and habit reversal still win. Topical capsaicin or arnica to intact skin over masseter — not inside the mouth, not on mucosa. Devil's claw is an oral MSK adjunct. Unilateral temporal pain with vision change in a >50-year-old is GCA, not TMJ.

Primary plants

  1. Cayenne (Capsicum annuum)
    1
    CayenneHuman data

    Capsicum annuum

    Topical capsaicin to intact skin over masseter/temple — not intra-oral.

    Typical. 0.025–0.075% cream to intact skin. Wash hands. Keep off mucosa and eyes.

    Safety. Burns. Not for broken skin. Not a mouth rinse.

  2. Arnica (Arnica montana)
    2
    ArnicaHuman data

    Arnica montana

    Topical gel for local ache. Internal arnica is a toxicity object.

    Typical. Gel to intact jaw skin as labeled.

    Safety. Never internal. Asteraceae.

Supportive plants2
  • Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)
    Devil's clawHuman data
    Harpagophytum procumbens

    Oral MSK pain adjunct if they want a systemic plant.

    Typical. Harpagoside extract short course.

    Safety. PUD, gallstones.

  • Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
    Lemon balmHuman data
    Melissa officinalis

    If the clench is an anxiety loop.

    Typical. Leaf tea.

    Safety. Clean.

When this is not enough

  • Jaw locked open/closed, GCA-range temporal pain with vision change, dental abscess, post-trauma malocclusion

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

All nervous / mental diagnoses