【#SkyPostColumn】Facial Paralysis Treatment: Timing is Key
Facial paralysis, also known as facial nerve paralysis, is referred to as "crooked mouth and eyes" or "sudden facial deviation" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Most patients develop this condition after exposure to cold or a common cold. They suddenly find one side of their cheek unresponsive and their mouth crooked while washing their face or rinsing their mouth in the morning. If the condition is severe, the facial expression muscles on the affected side may be completely paralyzed, leading to the disappearance of forehead wrinkles, a flattened nasolabial fold, and a drooping corner of the mouth. When smiling, the corner of the mouth will deviate towards the unaffected side. Additionally, the affected side cannot perform actions such as frowning, furrowing the brows, closing the eyes, puffing out the cheeks, or pouting. Other symptoms include pain behind the ear and loss of taste.
If left untreated, varying degrees of sequelae may occur, such as a crooked face or mouth, eye twitching when smiling, or tearing while eating, affecting one's psychological well-being, daily life, and work.
Based on the principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment, TCM categorizes facial paralysis into three types: Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, and Wind-Phlegm.
Wind-Cold Type: Sudden onset, inability to close the eye and tearing, paralysis of facial muscles, aversion to cold, facial muscle tightness, light red tongue with thin white coating, and a floating-tight pulse.
Wind-Heat Type: Sudden onset, or aversion to cold and fever, pain in the occipital region of one ear, herpes on the ear, tinnitus and hearing loss, followed by crooked mouth and eyes on the same side, irritability, bitter taste in the mouth and dry throat, quick temper, and possibly dry stools, red tongue with yellow or greasy coating, and a slippery-rapid or wiry-rapid pulse.
Wind-Phlegm Type: Sudden crooked mouth and eyes, inability to close eyelids or facial twitching, facial numbness and swelling, heavy head, chest tightness or vomiting phlegm, a swollen tongue with a white greasy coating, and a wiry-slippery pulse.
Once facial paralysis is detected, early treatment is crucial. Patients should seize the golden treatment period of 1 to 15 days. Additionally, patients with more severe complete facial paralysis should not give up due to unsatisfactory initial treatment results. It is important to focus on the recovery period (15 days to 3 months) and the treatment period. The first 3 months are a critical period for treatment. Some patients may experience involuntary facial muscle twitching or spasms during treatment; at this time, local stimulation should be avoided. Consistent, uninterrupted treatment should be maintained until full recovery to avoid sequelae. Furthermore, patients should increase exercise, rest regularly, and strengthen their physical fitness and immunity. On the other hand, pay attention to preventing cold and keeping warm, and avoid prolonged sitting or standing in drafty areas. It is recommended to seek medical attention as early as possible if any of the above symptoms are present.
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Source: https://skypost.ulifestyle.com.hk/column/article/3001798/%E6%B2%BB%E9%9D%A2%E7%99%B1%E9%A0%88%E6%8A%8A%E6%8F%A1%E9%BB%83%E9%87%91%E6%99%82%E9%96%93
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