Before pursuing my master’s degree in Chinese Medicine, I felt it was important for me to be in China to witness medicine used for thousands of years within its own culture. I lived there for one year (almost twenty years ago now) teaching English to college students, studying Chinese language, and observing in the hospital setting. In the U.S., we have private clinics for acupuncture treatment but there most medical care is received at a hospital, whether surgery, acupuncture, or herbal medicine.
Wind-Stroke
I had a Chinese student studying English and also Chinese Medicine, so I spent time observing with him in the hospital as he could somewhat interpret what was happening. (Conversational Chinese is a bit different than medical Chinese.) In my memory, there was a large, tall room for acupuncture treatment with dividers between approximately twenty beds. It was a much more institutional feeling that what you may Dind in the average American of Dice. Before I learned that the doctor we were shadowing specialized in neurology, I was confused and surprised to see so many patients with loss of muscle tone in half of their faces. I learned that this doctor was treating many patients with what they called Wind-Stroke, and that this was surprisingly common for people continuously exposed to the elements, particularly wind. This condition is also referred to as Wind-Stroke because of the sudden nature of the paralysis, similar to the sudden movements of the wind. I later learned that this is more accurately translated in English as Bell’s palsy or facial paralysis.
Or Bell’s Palsy
Here’s what the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says about Bell’s palsy: “Bell’s palsy is a form of temporary facial paralysis resulting from damage or trauma to the facial nerves. The facial nerve-also called the 7th cranial nerve-travels through a narrow, bony canal (called the Fallopian canal) in the skull, beneath the ear, to the muscles on each side of the face. When Bell’s palsy occurs, the function of the facial nerve is disrupted, causing an interruption in the messages the brain sends to the facial muscles. This interruption results in facial weakness or paralysis.
Bell’s palsy is named for Sir Charles Bell, a 19th century Scottish surgeon who described the facial nerve and its connection to the condition. The disorder, which is not related to stroke, is the most common cause of facial paralysis. Generally, Bell’s palsy affects only one of the paired facial nerves and one side of the face, however, in rare cases, it can affect both sides. Symptoms of Bell’s palsy can vary from person to person and range in severity from mild weakness to total paralysis. These symptoms may include twitching, weakness, or paralysis on one or rarely both sides of the face. Other symptoms may include drooping of the eyelid and corner of the mouth, drooling, dryness of the eye or mouth, impairment of taste, and excessive tearing in one eye. Most scientists believe that a viral infection such as viral meningitis or the common cold sore virusherpes simplex—causes the disorder. They believe that the facial nerve swells and becomes inflamed in reaction to the infection, causing pressure within the Fallopian canal and leading to ischemia (the restriction of blood and oxygen to the nerve cells).”
How is This Treated?
With Western medical care, Bell’s Palsy is typically treated with prednisone to stop the inflammation, Ibuprofen to reduce pain, and an eye patch or drops for an eyelid that won’t close. Acupuncture should be used immediately when the symptoms occur. It is common for the acupuncturist to employ electro-stimulation to the appropriate points of the affected area, along with using certain Chinese herbs and dietary recommendations. What I witnessed in China was that acupuncture quickened the recovery by stimulating the points daily for up to two straight weeks. Sometime people recovered after five visits depending on the severity of irritation to the nerve.
Even the “Stars” Get This Condition
This article was somewhat sparked by a friend who told me how the well known actress Angelina Jolie has credited acupuncture for the full recovery of her recent episode of Bell’s Palsy. When the stars start talking about such things, then the questions come rolling in, so I thought I’d share this ahead of time. If you ever Find yourself waking up with the sudden shock of facial paralysis, remember that acupuncture is an effectively used option to speed recovery.