You wake up, look in the mirror, and see that half of your face is drooping. Your eye won’t close and one side of your mouth is turned downward. Your first thought is bound to be, “did I have a stroke?” The emergency room doctor tells you that you have Bell’s palsy. It is difficult to determine which sounds scarier: stroke or Bell’s palsy.
What is a Bell’s palsy?
Considering its symptoms, it is urgent to assure sufferers that Bell’s palsy is not a stroke. It is reasonable to make such an assumption after suddenly having trouble closing an eye, eating, smiling, or even speaking. In fact, slurred speech is the key feature that causes people to equate Bell’s palsy with a stroke. However, all the symptoms occur due to damage to cranial nerve VII, also known as the facial nerve, resulting in the condition known as Bell’s palsy. Nerve inflammation leads to loss of control over facial muscles, which then causes the face to droop, typically on one side. Everything else controlled by the facial nerve may be affected as well: taste, saliva production, and even the ability to secrete tears.
The most bizarre aspect is a mask-like sensation where half of the face becomes dead and unresponsive. It tends to happen very suddenly, overnight even. Some people mention they notice difficulty closing one eye the night before, others note experiencing a shock-like sensation in their face before the paralysis. A neurologist will inform you that a virus causes the condition. He or she may tell you that most cases resolve over time — from a few weeks to several months.
Until recently, the cause of Bell’s palsy was a mystery. It seemed to be a common phenomenon among truckers, who often travel for hours with wind blowing through an open window on one side of their face. It is now believed that Bell’s palsy is caused by facial nerve inflammation due to viral infection. Herpes simplex I and herpes zoster are the two most likely suspects, but lyme disease and Epstein-Barr virus are also linked to Bell’s palsy. A physician will immediately prescribe anti-viral medication and a steroid to reduce inflammation. Some forward-thinking doctors may also recommend seeking acupuncture treatment as soon as possible to improve recovery rate. Fortunately, this is a condition for which acupuncture and medicinal herbs seem to offer a great deal of hope.
I’ve personally treated many cases of Bell’s Palsy and have found that some patients recover quickly, others respond more slowly. Many factors contribute to recovery speed and success including the general health of the patient. When treating Bell’s Palsy with TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), it is ideal to use both acupuncture and herbal medicine to address these contributing factors thoroughly.
Benefits of acupuncture in Bell’s palsy treatment
• Acupuncture decreases inflammation
• Acupuncture boosts the immune system
• Acupuncture provides stress relief
Face it (pun intended). That virus attacked the facial nerve because the immune system wasn’t strong enough to keep it at bay. Inadequate sleep, poor nutrition, and stress all contribute to a depressed immune system. Acupuncture’s known immune-boosting abilities can help. If you’ve read previous posts, you learned how acupuncture increases immune activity. In a nutshell, stimulation of specific acupuncture points release neurotransmitters that send signals to the brain and ultimately activate our immune system’s NK (natural killer) cells. The activated NK cells then attack the invading virus. 1
Improved circulation to the facial muscles is another way acupuncture benefits recovery from Bells palsy. Immobile muscles do not circulate blood as efficiently as muscle that flex and move. Acupuncture needles applied to the affected facial muscles and to points on the arms and legs that correspond with the face increase delivery of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the drooping tissues. Increased circulation pumps out and reduces inflammation.
The third way acupuncture helps those suffering from Bell’s palsy is stress relief. Bell’s palsy is a traumatic, humbling experience. Surely, it is difficult on the psyche to look in the mirror and not recognize the half-paralyzed face looking back at you. Acupuncture’s ability to calm the mind is an important part of managing the condition.
The role of herbal medicine in Bell’s palsy treatment
A Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, when treating Bell’s palsy, will commonly provide a formula to invigorate the blood and drain dampness (inflammation) from the facial area. He or she will also consider the patient’s constitution and augment the herbal formula accordingly. It is important to address underlying conditions contributed to the onset.
Western nutritional supplements and dietary changes are also beneficial in treatment of Bell’s palsy. Vitamins B12, B6, and the mineral zinc help nerve tissue recover from injury. L-lysine is an amino acid that is commonly used for herpes-related viral infection. It can also be taken regularly to inhibit future episodes. Then there is diet. Reduction of inflammatory foods, including sugar, fried foods, and dairy is extremely important—necessary, in fact—for the healing process.
Additional treatments: Chiropractic cranial therapy, massage, and facial exercises
I am a chiropractor as well as an acupuncturist and TCM practitioner, so chiropractic procedures are always included in my treatment of Bell’s palsy. Sacro-Occipital Technique cranial therapy is profoundly helpful. The facial nerve, passes from the brain stem through the temporal bone of the skull. Gentle, skillful correction of the temporal bone position can relief pressure from the facial nerve, thus improving function.
Gentle face and scalp massage and facial muscle exercises are excellent adjunct therapies patients can perform by themselves between treatments. Little by little, circulation and tone will improve.
Acupuncturists generally don’t get to see Bell’s palsy cases until after the patient has consulted with an MD. Nearly everyone who is affected by Bell’s palsy initially thinks they’ve had a stroke, so, of course, they go to an MD first. Once they are put at ease and convinced their symptoms are not related to stroke, they begin to explore what will help restore their face back to its gorgeous, symmetrical self. A quick internet search will show that many find acupuncture effective. Indeed, acupuncture and herbs are excellent complementary therapies. The most important step you can take if you’re experiencing or have in the past experienced Bell’s palsy is to make an appointment with your TCM practitioner. It is the first step to better understand the events that may have led to the condition, help you recover more quickly, and allow to you change course to avoid reoccurrences.
Johnston, et al. “Acupuncture May Stimulate Anticancer Immunity via Activation of Natural Killer Cells.” Evid Based Complement Alternat Med (2011).
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/481625/abs/ that the science shows measurable increases in immune activity after acupuncture treatment.
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