Bell’s Palsy
“I was shocked when I woke up. What happened to my face? I saw in the mirror that one side of my face couldn’t move. I could not smile or speak properly. I could not blow my left cheek or raise my left eyebrow. So I went immediately to see a doctor. She told me that I have a condition called Bell’s palsy.”
This distressing experience is faced by many people who have come down with this acute neurological condition. It is caused by a virus attacking the facial nerves resulting in paralysis and weakness of one side of the face. As much as 30% of Bell’s palsy sufferers experience some form of permanent weakness and disfigurement (Ref. 5).
Conventional Treatment
Conventional treatments for Bell’s palsy are steroids and anti-viral drug. These drugs are usually given in the early days from the onset of the disease. While they can reduce inflammation and stop the virus spreading, many people are left with a disfigured face due to nerve damage. This is an area where acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be very helpful.
How Does Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Help with Facial Paralysis?
Acupuncture is the treatment of choice in many parts of Asia. This involves stimulating body points to revive damaged nerves by way of improving blood circulation and reducing inflammation.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
The acupuncturist will gently insert fine needles into the affected side of the face and the body. The needles then stay in for about 20 to 30 minutes. In most cases marked improvement can be felt within two weeks when treated early. It is important to seek help from an experienced acupuncturist.
How Dose Chinese Medicine Work?
Chinese medicine may also be helpful used for paralysis as well. It involves a combination of medicinals work together synergistically to promote circulation and stimulation nerve repair.
Over the centuries some of the most effective medicinals for paralysis were found to be insects. Examples are earthworms, scorpion, centipedes and silkworms. However, these medicinals have a level of toxicity therefore it is essential that they are prescribed only by an experienced TCM practitioner.
Critical Window of Opportunity
While acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help with Bell’s palsy, there is a critical window of opportunity. Indeed the best time to get treatment is the first two weeks after the onset of the disease. Within three months of the disease it is still possible to regenerate muscle strength significantly. Once you wait beyond three months, it becomes more difficult to achieve marked difference. However, mild improvement is still possible in some cases.
Research
Research studies showed that acupuncture and Chinese medicine might improve recovery rates and facial function and could be a beneficial role as an adjunct therapy. There is a need for more rigorous studies in this area. (Ref. 1, 2 & 3). A randomised controlled trial showed that patients receiving acupuncture had significantly better recovery outcomes compared to the control group (Ref. 4).
References
1. Clinical Research on Acupuncture in the Treatment of Bell’s Palsy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3875929/
2. Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Bell’s Palsy.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5049876/
3. Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy: Systematic Review and Meta analysis.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2011.0358
4. Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy: A Randomised Controlled Trial. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2012.0092
5. Natural history of Bell’s palsy: prognostic factors and the effect of early treatment with prednisone and acyclovir. https://www.bmj.com/content/329/7465/30
