Bell’s Palsy is a temporary ailment that causes loss of sensory and motor functionalities of the face. Although there is no evidence for occurrence, researchers believe that the disorder is due to the Cranial Nerve VII’s inflammation or compression. The nerve passes through the narrow fallopian tube along with additional sensory fibers that carry signals from the brain. Due to the nerve’s compression, the signals fail to reach the destination, leading to muscle weakness, distortion, and, in some cases, paralysis.(1)
Home Remedies For Bell’s Palsy
Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 influences the eye and nervous system health. Likewise, foods rich in the vitamin, such as bananas, pistachios, potatoes, avocado, sesame seeds, and chickpeas play a crucial role in treating Bell’s Palsy.
Meditation: Deep breathing exercises and guided meditation help in relieving muscle stress. Participating a few minutes every day helps slow symptoms and focus on positive energy, which further reduces anxiety.
Zinc: Zinc has a more significant role in improving the immune system. Adding foods rich in zinc helps in overcoming symptoms that may lead to developing Bell’s Palsy. Flax seeds, kidney beans, spinach, watermelon seeds, and pumpkin seeds are an excellent addition.
Castor Oil: Castor oil has a reputation for improving blood circulation and prevent the growth of bacteria. Castor oil compress is a healthy way to enhance blood flow in the facial region. Warm a tablespoon of the oil and apply it on the face. Cover it with a warm washcloth and leave on for about 30 minutes.
Massage: Patients suffering from the illness find relief after attending a massage session. The therapy helps stimulate the muscles, nerves, and in turn, promote blood and oxygen flow.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture helps in relaxing muscles and stimulating nerves through sticking thin needles at vital points in the body. It is important to approach an expert with experience in treating Bell’s Palsy.
Exercises: Visiting a physical therapist is useful in learning about the practices that target facial muscles. Ensuring that the physical therapist has experience in attending individuals suffering from Bell’s Palsy is an important factor. A few simple exercises such as wrinkling the nose, smiling wide, raising eyebrows, and frowning could help in improving the condition.(2)
Is Bell’s Palsy A Common Disease?
Bell’s Palsy is not a common disease. It occurs rarely and happens in one out of 5,000 individuals. The recovery rate is high, and 80% show a full recovery sign with the facial muscles returning to normal. The remaining show full recovery between three and nine months.
What Are The Symptoms Of Bell’s Palsy?
The symptoms experienced by an individual change from another person. The symptoms begin abruptly and worsen after 48 hours. Most of the cases see the effect on one side of the face, while a few registered have an impact on both sides of the face. While facial distortion is general across all the severity condition, symptoms also include:
- Drooling
- Twitching
- Excessive tearing in one eye
- Dryness in the eye causes eye infection or blindness
- Unable to open or close eyes
- Drooping at the corner of the mouth
- Dry mouth
- Loss of taste
- Pain behind the ear
- Increased sensitivity to high sounds
- Headache
- Pain around the jaw(2)
What Causes Bell’s Palsy?
The term Bell’s Palsy is the name addressed to those who do not show a clear sign or the cause behind the occurrence of facial nerve palsy. Nonetheless, scientists say that viral infections, such as influenza, the herpes simplex virus, and others, are responsible for the nerve’s compression.(1)
The following are the individuals that possess a high chance of acquiring the disorder:
Bell’s Palsy affects people in the age group of 15 to 60 years old. However, it can affect a person at any age.(1)
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