TCM for Facial Paralysis (Bell’s Palsy)

Facial paralysis may still be a strange word to the general public, but in fact, it is all around us. It is a common and frequent disease that is not limited by age or gender. Even a nap in front of a fan in the summer time can easily causing that. The patient's face is often unable to complete even the most basic movements such as raising eyebrows, closing eyes, puffing out cheeks and nuzzling the mouth. In Traditional Chinese medicine, facial paralysis is referred to as "seclusion of the mouth" ,“口僻”or "distortion of the eyes and mouth" ,“口眼歪斜”. The causes of facial paralysis are many: pulling out ears, picking teeth, drinking alcohol, anger, fatigue, wind, cold and so on. It often occurs when people has lower immunity/superficial qi deficiency and they don't pay attention to it. Therefore, it is important to take precautions in daily life to prevent the disease before it occurs. If you have facial paralysis, it is even more important to treat it as soon as possible.

Acupuncture has been used for centuries to treat facial paralysis, and its efficacy is certain. It is now recognized by the WHO as one of the indications for acupuncture. Acupuncture treatment for facial paralysis often takes Yangming meridian points, Shaoyang meridian points and Jueyin meridian points as the main points, these three meridians circulate in the face, especially hand and foot Yangming meridian and Jueyin liver meridian in the inner and outer sides of the mouth and lips, foot and yangming stomach meridian in the face to the forehead, and the hand Shaoyang meridian in the cheeks. "Wherever the meridians and collaterals passes, the main treatment goes",“经络所通，主治所及”. In terms of meridian theory, acupuncture can mediate the facial localization of qi and blood veins, so that it is balanced and organized, the meridian can be nourished, facial paralysis can be restored. For central facial paralysis caused by liver yang, wind and phlegm blockage in the meridians (e.g., stroke), acupuncture has the effect of calming the liver and submerging the yang, quenching the wind, transforming the phlegm and opening the meridians, which also has a good therapeutic effect. Facial paralysis patients should avoid cold, greasy, spicy and stimulating food during acupuncture treatment, eat more fresh vegetables; appropriate facial acupoint massage or hot towel hot compresses helps.