Bell's palsy is a neurological disease characterized by temporary paralysis of the facial muscles, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Usually, only one side of your face is affected by the paralysis, which manifests as an inability to shut your eye and a drooping of the mouth. Complete recovery can occur without treatment within three to six months, but the use of specific vitamins may help reduce your recovery time.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that your body needs for the maintenance of a normal nervous system. Vitamin B12 has been used to treat a variety of neurological conditions and may prove beneficial in Bell's palsy patients. Injections of vitamin B12 can significantly reduce the time it takes you to recover from an attack of Bell's palsy. Injections containing 500 to 1,00 mcg of vitamin B12 have proven effective as adjunct therapy for Bell's palsy, the website PeaceHealth reports. Consult a physician for more information on vitamin B12 injections.
Vitamin B6
Your body needs a variety of vitamins in order to sustain a healthy nervous system. Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, is one of those important vitamins. Bell's palsy is signified by damage and inflammation of the facial nerve. Vitamin B6 promotes nerve cell growth and can be beneficial in reversing the effects of Bell's palsy, MayoClinic.com reports. Increased intake of vitamin B6 may encourage faster repair of the damaged facial nerve and therefore offer quicker recovery from the facial paralysis associated with Bell's palsy.
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is an essential vitamin that your body needs in order to properly use carbohydrates. Thiamine is often used to treat a variety of diseases, including inflammation of your nerves, MedlinePlus reports. Since Bell's palsy is caused by inflammation of the facial nerve, vitamin B1 can prove useful in treating the disease. In the article entitled "Bell's Palsy Treated with Vitamin B1" published in the British Medical Journal, Bell's palsy patients who received treatment with vitamin B1 recovered much faster than expected. Typically, if you have Bell's palsy it takes weeks before symptoms begin to resolve and complete recovery may take months. However, in at least three cases, vitamin B1 was able to reduce the recovery time drastically. Speak with your doctor if you wish to add vitamin B1 to a treatment regimen for Bell's palsy.
