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Bell’s palsy (BP) is a type of facial paralysis that results in an inability to control the facial muscles on the affected side. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. They may include muscle twitching, weakness, or total loss of the ability to move one or rarely both sides of the face. The cause of Bell’s palsy is unknown. Risk factors include diabetes and a recent upper respiratory tract infection. BP results from a dysfunction of cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve). Many believe that this is due to a viral infection that results in swelling.1

 

RESEARCH


Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Bell’s Palsy is defined as a wind stroke attack, since in TCM wind is said to be the vehicle of many diseases. Therefore, the wind takes advantage of the deficiency a patient is experiencing and enters the body attacking the face. This is the reason why the vital energy and the blood stagnates causing the inability of the facial muscles to operate properly. Thus, the bell’s palsy treatment aims to expel wind and promote the movement of qi and blood.2 Electro-stimulation acupuncture is one of the recommended protocols. This stimulates the facial nerves on a very deep level requiring approximately just 13 treatments before the face returns to its original form, which makes it very effective compared to other types of treatments. The acupuncture points used here include ST-2, ST-3, ST-4, ST-5, ST-6, ST-7, LI-19, LI-20, SI-18, GB-14, GB20, SJ-17, GV-26, GV-20, BL-2, ST-36, GB-34, LV-3, LI-4 and SP-6.3 In summary, Bell’s palsy is a debilitating condition in which conventional medicine has limited understanding and results. The exposure to external forces such as stress and environment cause the immune system to produce an inflammatory response. This inflammation obstructs the normal function of the nerves and vessels creating paralysis. Chinese medicine has treated this conditions for centuries. Therefore, chinese medicine and acupuncture on a regular basis help solving this condition.4

Acupuncture is well known in the treatment of facial paralysis. In fact, the combination of electroacupuncture and physiotherapy (rehabilitation training) is found to be very effective in the treatment of facial paralysis, and has the potential to significantly improve its symptoms at an early stage.5 In this different treatment the acupoints to be stimulated are GB-14, ST-2, SI-18, BL-2, ST-6, ST-4, LI-4, SJ-17 and LI-20. All acupoints are to be stimulated daily for 30 minutes.6 For acupuncture, the principles for the treatment of facial paralysis focused on restoring nerve function via improving local blood circulation, eliminating edema, and reducing facial nerve inflammation as discussed above. During another treatment, the selection of acupoints include LI-4, GB-20, ST-4, BL-2, ST-7. The LI-4 acupoint improves qi and blood circulation and eliminate excess wind. The GB-20 acupoint eliminate wind and pernicious influences. The ST-6, ST-4, BL-2, ST-7 acupoints are selected based on the symptoms of the individual patient. The primary acupoints recommended for the treatment are ST-6, ST-7, ST-4, BL-2, LI-4, GB-20 stimulated once daily for 14 consecutive days. This treatment should accelerate facial paralysis recovery and significantly increase the treatment efficacy.7

Another acupuncture treatment has shown to be effective for eliminating facial paralysis, by effectively targeting the liver stagnation. Since, it is known that facial paralysis due to liver stagnation often manifests as peripheral facial paralysis. In many cases, patients experience psychological complications including depression, anxiety and somatization symptoms. In traditional chinese medicine (TCM), the liver’s main function is to dredge the channels, remove bodily waste, and regulate qi. Stagnation of the liver causes the facial tendons and meridians to receive insufficient qi and blood supply. This worsen facial paralysis. The recommended acupoints to stimulate include BL-2, GB-14, ST-2, LI-20, ST-4, ST-6, LI-4, LV-3, GB-34 and GB-41.8 Other alternative treatment includes stimulating acupoints ST-4, ST-6, LI-4, GB-14, ST-7. But, in this case only the acupoints on the affected side should treated. The acupuncturist is recommended to use a filiform needle. Upon arrival of a deqi sensation, a needle retention time of 30 minutes is suggested. The acupuncture treatment should be conducted once daily for 6 consecutive days with only 1 day break afterwards. This treatment cycle should be repeated for a 4 weeks total.9

In another study on facial paralysis and acupuncture, researchers determined that acupuncture and moxibustion produce positive results in patients suffering from facial paralysis. Then, acupuncture and moxibustion have proven efficacy in treating facial paralysis. Interestingly enough, acupuncture and moxibustion therapies are often conducted only during the recovery phase of facial paralysis.10 In fact, many scientific investigations demonstrate that acupuncture works quite well with a range of other traditional Chinese and western facial paralysis treatments. Above all, acupuncture is a safe and effective method for the treatment of facial paralysis. It is also known that treatment outcomes produced by acupuncture and moxibustion are superior to that of pharmaceutical medications. Moreover, based on the clinical results, researchers conclude that acupuncture and moxibustion do not cause facial muscle spasms when administered during the acute phase of facial paralysis but instead improve recovery rates.11 Finally, another acupuncture treatment involves stimulating the following points LI-4 on opposite side of palsy or bilateral. For Eye: BL-2, GB-14, GB-1. For Face: SI-18, ST-3, LI-20, ST-7 towards ST-4 and vice versa – can use electrical stimulation from ST-4 to ST-7.12

Footnotes

  1. What is Bell’s Palsy? – ninds.nih.gov – 2003, https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Bells-Palsy-Fact-Sheet
  2. Acupuncture and Bell’s Palsy – acufinder.com – 2014, https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+and+Bell’s+Palsy
  3. Acupuncture and Bell’s Palsy – acufinder.com – 2014, https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+and+Bell’s+Palsy
  4. Acupuncture and Bell’s Palsy – acufinder.com – 2014, https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+and+Bell’s+Palsy
  5. Acupuncture Heals Facial Paralysis – healthcmi.com – 2014, http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1265-acupuncture-heals-facial-paralysis-new-study
  6. Acupuncture Heals Facial Paralysis – healthcmi.com – 2014, http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1265-acupuncture-heals-facial-paralysis-new-study
  7. What is Bell’s Palsy? – ninds.nih.gov – 2003, https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Bells-Palsy-Fact-Sheet
  8. Acupuncture Reverses Facial Paralysis And Enhances Drug Therapy – healthcmi.com – 2016, http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1639-acupuncture-reverses-facial-paralysis-and-enhances-drug-therapy
  9. Acupuncture Reverses Facial Paralysis And Enhances Drug Therapy – healthcmi.com – 2016, http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1639-acupuncture-reverses-facial-paralysis-and-enhances-drug-therapy
  10. Acupuncture Reverses Facial Paralysis And Enhances Drug Therapy – healthcmi.com – 2016, http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1639-acupuncture-reverses-facial-paralysis-and-enhances-drug-therapy
  11. Acupuncture Reverses Facial Paralysis And Enhances Drug Therapy – healthcmi.com – 2016, http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1639-acupuncture-reverses-facial-paralysis-and-enhances-drug-therapy
  12. Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy – Treatment Protocols – theory.yinyanghouse.com – 2018, https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/treatments/acupuncture_for_bells_palsy