Bell’s palsy results when the seventh cranial nerve becomes inflamed or compressed. This nerve communicates with the brain to control specific muscles in the face. Damage from Bell's palsy causes temporary weakness and paralysis that can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Standard treatment primarily involves drugs to reduce pain and inflammation and therapy to exercise the facial muscles. No natural treatment is known to cure this condition, but certain ones might help speed the course of healing and reduce discomfort.
Reducing Inflammation Through Diet
Inflammation of the facial nerve contributes to the development of Bell's palsy and can worsen pain associated with it. The foods you eat influence the inflammatory response in your body by contributing to the production of chemicals that either promote inflammation or reduce it. Fats, in particular, have a big impact on inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation; good sources include fatty fish like salmon, nuts and seeds. Omega-6 fatty acids -- found in safflower, sunflower and corn oils -- promote inflammation, as do saturated fats found in animal products and trans fats, or hydrogenated oils. You can also reduce inflammation by cutting back on refined carbohydrates and sugar and eating more fruits and vegetables, full of inflammation-fighting antioxidants.
Vitamin Therapy
Certain nutrients play a key role in promoting nerve health. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that vitamin therapy with vitamin B6, B12 and zinc might help treat Bell’s palsy. Talk to your doctor about the appropriate doses; to achieve therapeutic benefits, you might require amounts larger than your daily nutritional requirements.
Acupuncture
The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture operates on the premise that an energy force runs through the body. When this energy becomes blocked in certain areas, specific health problems result. The stimulation of these points is supposed to restore normal functioning.
A case study published in ‘’Medical Acupuncture’’ in 1999 found 15 acupuncture treatments over two month’s time resulted in significant improvement in symptoms in a woman not experiencing improvement from other treatments for Bell's palsy. At the start the patient was rated a 5 -- severe dysfunction -- on the House-Brackmann grading system, used to determine the severity of facial nerve damage. By the end of the treatment, she was graded a 2, classified as mild dysfunction.
The author, Dr. David P. Sniezek, reports research has found acupuncture resulted in a cure or significant improvement in between 80 and 100 percent of cases, depending on how long the condition existed before the individual sought treatment.
Chinese Herbs
Greg River, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in Sydney, Australia, reports on Gancao.net that several herbs might help treat Bell's palsy based on his experience treating patients. Herbs used in his formulation include Qin Jiao, Fang Feng, Chuan Xiong, Pu Gong Ying, Dang gui, Xi Xin, Bai Shao, Di Long, Fu Ling and Gan Cao.
Traditional Chinese medicine works on very different principles than Western medicine, and treatments are often very individualized, meaning two people with the same medical problem might receive different treatments. For optimal benefit, work with an experienced practitioner if you want to experiment with this form of medicine.
References
- ''Medical Acupuncture'''; Acupuncture Treatment of Bell's Palsy: A Case Report; David P. Sniezek, D.C., M.D; 1999
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Bell's Palsy Fact Sheet
- Gancao.net; The Treatment of Bell’s Palsy with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs; Greg River, M.TCM
- The Diet Channel: Anti-Inflammatory Diet
