Avenue Acupuncture FAQs

Steroid medications are commonly prescribed for Bell’s Palsy, with other medications used depending on the cause. Mild cases may heal gradually while managing eye-related symptoms with protective glasses, eye drops, or taping the eye shut at night. Severe cases may require surgical reconstruction such as nerve grafts or muscle grafts.

The main cause is temporary or permanent damage to the facial nerve (cranial nerve seven), most commonly from Bell’s Palsy. Other causes include surgical damage, bacterial infections, physical trauma to the head, neurological conditions, birth trauma, rare genetic conditions, and stroke.

Facial paralysis is a loss of muscle movement or weakness in one side of the face due to damage of the facial nerve. There are three degrees of damage: first degree (a bruise to the nerve that heals in about eight weeks), second degree (more severe, healing over several months), and third degree (significant damage with slow and often incomplete healing).

TCM differentiates the underlying syndrome causing the paralysis, such as an external pathogen blocking the channels of the face, or qi deficiency and blood stasis leaving the face malnourished. Treatment addresses these imbalances to restore function to the facial nerve and muscles.