Success is Guaranteed with Early Acupuncture Treatment for Bell’s Palsy

A high rate of success is assured when New York’s acupuncture treatment for Bell’s palsy is applied at the soonest possible time. A condition in which 7th cranial nerve inflammation occurs all of a sudden, Bell’s palsy is usually caused by sleeping near an open window with your face exposed to the cold. The defense mechanism of the body isn’t as strong while you’re asleep and when you’re exposed to cold air that typically causes Cold to invade the body, it leads to more damage than it usually would.

Bell’s palsy is accompanied by the following symptoms:

? Pain around the ear
? Loss of taste
? Frequent tearing of the affected eye
? Dry eyes
? Drooling
? Difficulty speaking
? Numbness, weakness, or paralysis of one or both sides of the face

There are three factors that need to be addressed when treating Bell’s palsy. They are:

? Removing the cold pathogenic virus
? Stimulating the flow of blood and qi to the affected areas of the face
? Strengthening the immune system to reinforce the first two factors

It is recommended to treat not only the affected area directly, but the distal points on the legs and hands that are connected to the face internally as well. Some useful acupuncture points are also located on the shoulders and back of the neck that can help boost blood circulation to the face and remove pathogenic factors.

The face can contain up to 24 acupuncture points that can help address Bell’s palsy; these points can also be stimulated using acupressure. The points can be stimulated for up to a count of 100 a few times a day to convey blood to the face. The best acupoints used to stimulate qi and blood to the face and to treat other conditions are listed below.

? Triple Burner 23 – Eye pain and swelling
? Governing Vessel 26 – mobilizes qi to the face, recommended for late night driving
? Stomach 2 – Various eye problems
? Stomach 4 – Trouble eating and facial pain
? Gall Bladder 14 – Headaches on the front of the head

Bell’s palsy acupuncture treatment may entail a couple of treatments each week for around five weeks to restore the normal functioning of the face based on how soon treatment was started. As time passes, it becomes harder to bring back the facial muscles to their normal function; hence, performing acupressure on yourself can be an ideal way to help treat the face.

Acupuncture Is An Ideal Tool for the Treatment of Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s Palsy is a paralysis of one side of a person’s face caused by a dysfunction of cranial the facial nerve (nerve VII) resulting in the inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. This disorder is often temporary with the trademark symptom of a sudden onset of complete or partial paralysis of the face that usually happens overnight. Bell’s palsy is believed to be brought about by an inflammatory condition that causes the facial nerve to swell. The swelling forces the nerve to compress resulting in nerve damage or nerve inhibition. Facial functions like raising the eyebrow, flaring of nostrils, tearing, closing the eye, frowning, smiling, and blinking all can become impaired. Aside from these, half the face appears to droop and taste and hearing sensations can be affected. Within a few weeks symptoms subside in most people weeks even without treatment, and within 3 to 6 months, the sufferer can attain complete recovery.

Bell’s palsy in TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine, is known as “deviation of the mouth” and blames this condition on external Cold and Wind that infiltrate the channels traversing the face and interfering with the flow of Blood and Qi (Energy) that prevents the muscles and vessels from receiving all-important nourishment. A very popular and extremely effective treatment for Bell’s palsy is acupuncture in Cleveland which involves the needling of acupuncture points on the affected side of the head, neck, and face as well as other parts of the body. Chinese herbs specifically designed for this disorder may be prescribed to heal the body from the inside out.

Western-trained physicians often prescribe corticosteroids for Bell’s palsy patients to relieve the inflammation and at times, an antiviral drug, as well. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers can also help. You can also apply moist heat by using washcloth soaked in warm water several times a day and putting it to the affected side to relieve the swelling. Exercising your face and massaging your facial muscles can also help as well as keeping the affected eye lubricated with eye drops. You can also wear an eye patch while sleeping at night to prevent you from scratching your eye. Relaxation techniques such as tai chi, meditation, and yoga can also be of benefit since stress can facilitate the occurrence of Bell’s palsy. Stay away from cold, drafts, and, wind especially after sweating. Do not also eat cold foods that come straight from the refrigerator or freezer. Abstain from eating spicy and fried fatty foods as they all can aggravate the condition. Most importantly, after you have developed Bell’s Palsy, seek treatment as soon as possible for faster healing and to avoid any residual complications.

TCM and Acupuncture Is Strongly Recommended For the Quick Recovery of Bell’s Palsy Symptoms

Bell’s palsy is a neurological condition that affects an estimated 40,000 people in the United States each year. This disorder manifests as a paralysis of the face and usually impacts just one side of the face. It is believed to be caused by facial nerve damage that controls the muscles on one side of the face. The muscles begin to droop which affects the sufferer’s ability to cry as well his ability to control his saliva and taste. Pregnant women, people with diabetes, old people, and young adults are the most at risk for this condition although it can potentially strike anyone.

Bell’s palsy usually develops overnight and without warning. Most sufferers wake up to find that their facial muscles have been paralyzed. A lot of them either manifest no symptoms beforehand, or they overlook the warning subtle signs, including pain in the back of the head, pain behind the ear, and pain in the neck. Bell’s palsy sufferers can experience several difficult facial dysfunctions including slurred speech, and difficulty smiling, eating and shutting their eyes. Oftentimes, people mistake these signs as the effects of a stroke, which thankfully, Bell’s palsy is not. While the symptoms can dramatically appear, they are only temporary and gradually disappear or get better within three weeks.

There are a number of natural remedies that can hasten the recuperation process whilst the patient is waiting for the disorder to abate. Herbal remedies are used by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to alleviate stress (believed to worsen Bell’s palsy), boost the functionof the nervous system, and provide a therapeutic effect on the body. Herbal preparations such as Aconite, Dulcamara, and Causticum, as well as herbs such as Avena Sativa, St. john’sWort, and Valerian can be used to address conditions associated with the nervous system. Intake of zinc, and vitamins B6 and B12 can stimulate nerve growth and may accelerate the healing of the damaged facial nerve.

Bell’s palsy symptoms can be substantially assuaged with massage therapy. Practicingdaily facial exercises and/or a mild massaging of the affected parts of the face can improve the condition. One can also go for a full body massage that includes body parts not affected by the condition. This type of massage targets stress which can worse the condition, and is believed to be a factor that precipitates the onset of an episode; therefore, receiving a full body relaxingmassage may relax a patient which can result in quick and full recovery.

A syndrome of disharmony known as “External Wind Invasion of the Meridians of the face” is usually the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis for Bell’s palsy. TCM practitioners believe that one of the primary implications of this condition is an underlying deficiency of vital energy (qi). For thousands of years, practitioners in China have used acupuncture to aid in the recovery of Bell’s palsy. Initially, the goal of TCM treatment is to boost flow of blood to the face, invigorate qi, clear Damp and, expel Wind. Acupuncture treatments in Vancouver once or twice a week can improve nerve function, quicken the dissipation of the paralysis, and help relax a patient.

Bell’s palsy patients may require some weeks of recovery time. They can take some time off from their normally daily routines and just rest at home. Holistic healing and TCM can offer several options, from vitamin supplements, acupuncture, massage to herbal remedies to help quicken recovery from Bell’s palsy.