Although Bell's palsy sometimes disappears without treatment, there are options to help speed recovery. Bell's palsy is treatable with some traditional and alternative methods. Pain medications, antiviral medicine and anti-inflammatories are a traditional way to treat this condition. Surgery or physical therapy is sometimes recommended, too. Alternative therapies include acupuncture, vitamin therapy, biofeedback and relaxation therapy. Yoga is a form of relaxation therapy accessible to anyone.
Therapy
Bell's palsy symptoms include pain and numbness in the face, ear or tongue, weakness, drooping or paralysis on one side of the face, increased sensitivity to noise on the affected side and the inability to taste with the tip of the tongue. Although something as simple as eyedrops may work better than yoga at treating symptoms such as difficulty shutting the eye on the affected side, yoga and other relaxation therapies help to relieve chronic pain and muscle tension associated with Bell's palsy.
Yoga
Yoga is an entire system for mental, physical and spiritual well-being and development that was developed in India thousands of years ago. Many people equate yoga with stretching and that is a large part of the physical aspect. But yoga asanas, or postures, are not just for stretching. They are also used for strength, balance and relaxation. Yoga also uses breathing in conjunction with asanas to bring relaxation and calm. This is called pranayama. Both the physical postures and the breathing aspects of yoga can relieve muscle tension.
Breathing
Proper breathing in yoga uses the diaphragm as the primary instrument for breath control. The muscles of the chest and lungs take a back seat. Bell's palsy sufferers often have difficultly using their diaphragms, but performing yoga breathing exercises can free the diaphragm and allow for full, deep breathing. To breathe with the diaphragm, sit comfortably in a chair or on the floor in a position that allows you to sit up as straight as possible. Inhale through your nose and into your abdomen while keeping your upper body still. Do not force yourself to take a breath deeper than is comfortable. Exhale slowly and completely, then pause for a moment. As you become more relaxed, increase the time of your exhalations.
Corpse Pose
Yoga poses all have an element of relaxation. You breathe and relax into a pose. One pose specifically for relaxation is corpse pose. Most people can hold this pose for hours, even if they cannot stay in downward-facing dog for more than a few seconds. Corpse pose looks like simply lying on your back. But corpse pose is also deeply relaxing for the mind and body. To practice corpse, lie on your back and place your body in a neutral position by letting your arms lie palms up next to your sides and your legs fall open toward the floor. Let everything go, from releasing tension in the lower back, to dropping the shoulder blades to the floor. Let the eyeballs relax into your head, soften all the skin on your face and breathe deeply with your diaphragm.
