[ #SunnyDayColumn ] Treating Facial Paralysis Requires Seizing the Golden Time
Facial paralysis, also known as facial nerve palsy, is called "crooked mouth and eyes" or "facial palsy" in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Most patients develop the condition due to exposure to cold or a cold, suddenly noticing weakness in one side of their face and a crooked mouth while washing their face or rinsing their mouth in the morning. In severe cases, the facial muscles on that side become completely paralyzed, resulting in the disappearance of forehead wrinkles, flattening of the nasolabial fold, drooping of the corner of the mouth, and the mouth deviating to the normal side when showing teeth. Furthermore, the affected side cannot perform actions such as wrinkling the forehead, frowning, closing the eyes, puffing out the cheeks, or pursing the lips. Other symptoms include pain behind the ear and loss of taste.
If left untreated, it may leave varying degrees of sequelae, such as facial asymmetry, mouth drooping, eye twitching when smiling, or tearing when eating, affecting mental health, daily life, and work.
According to the principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment, traditional Chinese medicine classifies facial paralysis into three syndrome types: wind-cold, wind-heat, and wind-phlegm.
Wind-cold syndrome: Sudden onset, inability to close eyes and tearing, paralysis of muscles on the side of the face, fear of cold, tightness of facial muscles, pale red tongue with thin white coating, and floating and tight pulse.
Wind-heat syndrome: Sudden onset, or chills and fever, pain on the occipital region of one ear, herpes on the ear, tinnitus and hearing loss, followed by facial paralysis on the same side, irritability, bitter taste in the mouth and throat, restlessness and anger, constipation, red tongue with yellow or greasy coating, and slippery and rapid or wiry and rapid pulse.
Wind-phlegm type: sudden facial paralysis, inability to close eyelids or facial twitching, facial numbness and swelling, heaviness of the head, chest tightness or vomiting of phlegm, enlarged tongue with white and greasy coating, and wiry and slippery pulse.
Early treatment is crucial once facial paralysis is diagnosed, and patients should seize the golden treatment period of 1 to 15 days. Furthermore, patients with severe complete facial paralysis should not give up due to poor initial treatment results; they should pay attention to 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; in this case, local irritation should be avoided. Treatment should be continued without interruption until full recovery to avoid sequelae. In addition, patients should strengthen their physical fitness and immunity through exercise and regular rest. They should also pay attention to keeping warm and avoiding prolonged sitting or standing in drafts. It is recommended that patients seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience any of the above symptoms.
#Zhang Yong #Celebrity Physician #shangyitang
Reprinted from: 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