Acupuncture treats Bell's palsy
Updated: Aug 28
Bell’s palsy is a temporary weakness and paralysis of the facial muscles and nerves, affecting primarily one side of the face. This condition happens frequently to so many people, yet most people don’t know that acupuncture is very effective for Bell’s palsy if treated at the early onset.
Common Bell's palsy symptoms include:
Asymmetry and drooping of one side of face.
Facial pain, tightness, and pulling.
Numbness and weakness of facial motor functions especially of the eyes and mouth.
Speech impairment, slurring.
Inability to chew, impaired motor and sensory functions of the tongue.
Drooling, inability to hold food or liquid inside the mouth.
Unable to smile.
Partial loss of taste.
Excessive tearing of eye.
Inability to close eye completely.
Cause of Bell's Palsy
According to acupuncture healing principles, Bell's palsy is caused by wind attacking the face causing obstruction of energy and blood flow through the energy pathways of the face. When energy and blood cannot flow through an area of the body, motor and sensory capabilities of that particular area would be impaired.
Often people with a very weak energy system are vulnerable to wind attack. Imagine a well-built, sturdy concrete building that stands firm and solid and able to withstand any amount of wind or storm assailing it versus a flimsy straw hut that would collapse flat on the ground when a heavy storm blows by. Similarly, the face of a person with weakened energy system is vulnerable like a straw hut.
How acupuncture treats Bell's palsy
Acupuncture treats Bell’s palsy and restores normal functions and symmetry to the face by opening the affected energy pathways, disperse energy blockages, break up blood stagnation, assist energy and blood flow, expel wind, fortify the energy system and lift the sunken energy to restore balance to the face.
IMPORTANT - Restoring symmetry to the face can be successful or ineffective depending on the time frame. If treated early, no later than three months from the initial onset, acupuncture is highly successful. The longer you wait, the more time you allow for the asymmetrical pattern of the facial muscles to deeply set, thus making it very difficult to reverse the damage.
This condition calls for quick and aggressive action. At our clinic, patients typically come three times a week for three consecutive weeks. By the third week most of the motor and sensory functions as well as symmetry would have been restored close to normal. Afterwards, patients need to keep a maintenance for a period of time to reinforce the progress achieved and to continue supporting the healing process.
Cautions to prevent Bell's palsy
Always be protective of your head and face as this is the most vulnerable part of your body. External forces in the environment will attack your head and face first before any other areas of your body.
Avoid exposing yourself to strong wind. If you have to be outside on a very windy day, cover your head with a hat or scarf. Do not stay outside or exercise for a long stretch of time. Especially during exercise and with profuse sweating, the pores of your body are more open and this allows easy access for wind or extreme temperature to invade the interior – you would be inviting danger.
Avoid sleeping near an open window. Wind can easily invade the body, especially at night as during night when your wei qi (defensive energy of the body) retreats inward and not providing adequate protection for the body.
Avoid having a fan blowing full force directly at you whether frontal or in the back.
In your office, do not sit below a vent to avoid especially cold draft hitting you. If a vent is right above your head, find some way to cover it or deflect the draft.
Try to minimize the stress level in your life as much as possible. High stress debilitates the human energy system, consequently a vulnerable energy system cannot withstand the assaults that come in many forms.
April Bui, LAC is a Texas licensed acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist, Usui Reiki Master, Holy Fire Reiki Master and Instructor, and owner of Dharma Reiki & Acupuncture clinic. April has been in practice for more than 18 years as an acupuncturist and more than 25 years as a Reiki practitioner. April is passionate about helping people, healing, and teaching. She devotes much focus to her clinical practice as well as training future Reiki healers. April is available for in-person consultation; you will get an in-depth assessment and a personalized treatment plan for your conditions. Schedule your free consultation with April today.
