Then doctors will check for viral infections or undiagnosed diabetes, and administer an EMG, CT, or MRI to assess nerve damage. Medical diagnosis for Bell’s palsy will first focus on ruling out other, more serious causes of facial paralysis, like stroke. Pain in the face and jaw muscles is more commonly caused by Trigeminal Neuralgia, a more severe and chronic condition related to irritation or inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, which communicates messages of sensation from the face to the brain. More often, though, Bell’s palsy does not cause intense pain. Occasionally, there may be pain from the swollen facial nerve. Heightened sensitivity to sounds on one side.Pain behind the ear on the affected side.Facial weakness or facial paralysis, affecting part or all of the face, most often face droops on one side, sometimes the lower half of the the face drooping.If no other signs of stroke are present, consider whether there are signs of Bell’s palsy: If this happens to you or someone you know, first review the FAST Stroke test guidelines, to quickly assess whether or not the facial paralysis may be due to a stroke. In Bell’s Palsy, inflammation of the 7th cranial nerve causes a loss of muscle control in part of the face. Top 10 Signs and Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy TCM and acupuncture have been shown in clinical research to help regenerate neurons and promote the repair, growth and development of new nerve cells.

Scientists believe that Bell’s palsy is caused in part by neurodegeneration, or damage to neurons, somewhat similar to ALS. Viral infections that can cause swelling, or edema, in the parts of the head that affect the facial nerve include:ĭiabetes, Lyme Disease, and the inflammatory disorder Sarcoidosis can also cause the sort of swelling and compression that lead to facial nerve palsy. When tissues surrounding CN7 become inflamed, perhaps due to a lingering infection, it may lose some or all of its functionality due to a lack of blood flow. This nerve controls communications between the brain and the facial muscles, including the tongue, and therefore controls our ability to make facial expressions, as well as being involved in tasting, chewing, and breathing. What Causes Bell’s Palsy? Bell’s palsy is caused by damage to the 7th cranial nerve.īell’s palsy occurs due to a compromisation of the 7th cranial nerve, also known as “CN7” or the “facial nerve,” which originates in the center of the skull and has five branches that extend out into all of the areas of the face: around the eyes, nose, mouth, and chin. The TCM approach to treating Bell’s palsy with acupuncture and herbs can be helpful as either an adjunct to conventional treatment, or an alternative for those who wish to avoid steroids. Often doctors will recommend Prednisone steroid treatment as a way to help speed recovery. Sometimes people are left with permanent damage, though, and may have some facial weakness for the rest of their lives. People with upper respiratory problems and diabetes have a higher risk for Bell’s palsy–both conditions which can create inflammation in the cranial nerves–but it really can happen to anyone at any age.īell’s palsy generally resolves itself over time, which could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Conventional modern medicine has not fully explained what causes Bell’s palsy, but it is believed to be at least sometimes due to recent infections and/or immune responses that create inflammation in this area of the head.īell’s palsy affects about 40,000 people in the U.S. Bell’s palsy is related to a lack of blood flow (ischemia) to the 7th cranial nerve, which may be caused by inflammation or compression. Acupuncture and TCM offer a safe and effective method of treatment to help resolve Bell’s palsy.Īlso known as idiopathic facial paralysis, Bell’s palsy comes on suddenly and worsens over the course of a day or two, often resulting in the face drooping on one side. Bell’s palsy is a kind of neuropathy that affects the facial muscles, causing weakness or paralysis. Help, I can’t move half my face! A drooping face is sometimes a sign of stroke, but more often facial droop is caused by Bell’s palsy. Bell’s palsy causes paralysis, usually on one side of the face. By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D., and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.

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