SMILES FOR DAYS: RECOVERING FROM BELL'S PALSY WITH ACUPUNCTURE

Woman touching one side of her face, showing the facial weakness of Bell's palsy

Imagine waking up and half your face is completely paralyzed. Developing Bell’s Palsy can feel a bit like a practical joke. You look in the mirror, and something’s not quite right. You eat a snack, but your lips feel numb. Suddenly, you can’t blink one eye or smile. It's often so shocking to wake up that to most people who've had this happen head straight to the ER thinking they've had a stroke. No one’s exactly sure what causes Bell’s palsy, a condition that involves sudden weakness on one side of the face. But the symptoms are unmistakable. Once the weakness, or paralysis, sets in, it can affect your ability to control blinking, smiling or other facial gestures. The good news: Bell’s palsy is treatable and usually gets better within a couple of weeks. However, it may also linger and be unresponsive to standard treatments. Therefore leading to long term disfigurement. Better news: Acupuncture can make a huge difference in resolving facial paralysis quickly and completely. Having a series of acupuncture (especially immediately following an acute episode) is super effective at reducing inflammation, calming the facial nerve, and dialing down stress and active viral load that caused the onset in the first place. Our goal is to help you recover your gorgeous smile as quick as possible!

Understanding Bell's Palsy:

Bell's Palsy, characterized by the sudden onset of facial weakness or paralysis, remains a complex condition with an elusive cause. While viral infections, particularly the herpes simplex virus, are often linked to its development, certain risk factors, such as diabetes pregnancy and respiratory infections, may heighten susceptibility. Very specifically, it results from the dysfunction of cranial nerves. Specifically cranial nerve VII, the facial nerve. This facial nerve is responsible for the movement of muscles on the face, including facilitating facial expressions such as smiling, controlling the eye for blinking and shutting the eye. It also sends signals to the tear glands, the salivary glands and taste sensations from the tongue.

What are the symptoms?

Damage to the facial nerve can lead to many problems due to the complexity of its functions. Bell’s Palsy can present differently from person to person and depends on the severity of the paralysis. The most common symptom is sudden weakness of one side of the face. Other symptoms can include:

Drooling
Inability to close eye (causing dry eyes)
Excessive tearing of the eye
Drooping of the mouth
Pain behind the ear or jaw
Abnormal sensation
Altered taste
Noise sensitivity
Ringing in the ears
Sensitivity to wind
Facial distortion
Headaches

Impaired functioning of the facial muscles can affect the daily activities such as drinking, eating and speaking. Additionally, the effect on facial symmetry frequently determines a person’s appearance and attraction. And so asymmetry can also affect psychological and social aspects.

Acupuncture as a Complementary Treatment:

In Jacksonville, individuals grappling with Bell's Palsy are discovering the potential of acupuncture as a complementary therapy to conventional treatments. Acupuncture can play a role in the treatment plan for Bell’s Palsy, either alongside drug therapy or as an independent modality. It’s essential to note that while some patients have reported improvements, outcomes can differ greatly from person to person. The effects of Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy acts on improving the facial nerve function and stiffness following an attack. The evidence supports that Acupuncture can accelerate the repair of facial nerve injury along with reducing inflammation, promoting nerve regeneration, and alleviating pain and discomfort. While at the same time reducing the stress of it all and boosting confidence with each and every treatment.

Did you know pregnant women face a three times higher risk? ✨

Pregnant women face unique challenges and an increased risk of developing Bell's Palsy. Changes in hormone levels and the body's immune response during pregnancy may contribute to this heightened susceptibility.

What to expect?

As with most neurological conditions, it is more favorable for Bell’s Palsy treatment in the earlier stages. However, in later stages, it is still an effective treatment. Studies shows acupuncture can quicken recovery rates and influence facial nerve function positively even after long periods following the onset of Bell’s Palsy. For the best outcomes, a commitment to 2-3 treatments a week in the initial few weeks is required. An individual treatment plan will be drawn up by your Acupuncturist depending on the severity and duration of your condition. Treatment often focuses on specific facial and ear points. Studies also show combining electric stimulation therapy and herbal therapy are also helpful in the recovery process.

Bell’s Palsy Acupuncture in Jacksonville

Are you looking for Bell’s palsy acupuncture in Jacksonville? If so, we’d love to help you look and feel like your old self again! Health Pointe Jacksonville Acupuncture + Wellness Clinic is a specialty acupuncture clinic with expert training in facial acupuncture. Our focused treatments are designed to help restore movement and control over your facial muscles as soon as possible so you can get back to living a normal, healthy life. But – we don’t stop there. We want to make sure your body is balanced and resilient. We’ll help you make the best choices for your health so that this paralysis doesn’t happen again. When it comes to Bell’s palsy, time is of the essence! Don’t delay your recovery – schedule your acupuncture appointment today. Have questions about your treatment? Send us a message, and we’ll help you make sure acupuncture is the right next step for you.