Home Remedies and Herbs for Bell's Palsy

Bell’s palsy is a medical condition that affects a nerve in the face called the facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve.¹ This nerve is responsible for controlling the face muscles.¹ Damage to the seventh cranial nerve can cause paralysis, which prevents a patient with Bell’s palsy from controlling the muscles in their face.¹ This condition can occur at any age and is typically temporary, with symptoms improving after a few weeks.² Most people recover within six months, though some people experience life-long Bell’s palsy symptoms.² If symptoms disappear, it’s rare for Bell’s palsy to return in those patients.²

What Causes Bell’s Palsy?

Bell’s palsy causes aren’t completely known, though it is commonly linked to a viral infection.² Bell’s palsy occurs when the nerve in the face becomes inflamed, usually due to infection.³ Viral infections commonly linked to Bell’s palsy include:³

• Cold sores
• Herpes
• Chickenpox
• Mononucleosis
• Respiratory illnesses
• Rubella
• Mumps
• Cytomegalovirus infections
• Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
• Flu

Risk increases if you have diabetes, an upper respiratory infection, or are pregnant.⁴ Bell’s palsy is most common in pregnant women who are in their third trimester or have given birth in the last week.⁴ In patients who experience recurring Bell’s palsy, they typically have a family history of the condition, suggesting there may be a genetic component involved that predisposes certain people to Bell’s palsy.⁴ Symptoms appear suddenly, become their worst around 48 hours, and then slowly improve within two weeks to six months.⁵

Bell’s Palsy Symptoms

Individuals with Bell’s palsy may experience sudden facial muscle weakness or numbness on one side of their face.² Eventually, this can turn into muscle paralysis. Patients may notice that one side of their face appears droopy, that their eye rests in a closed position, and that their smile appears lopsided.² Other symptoms include:⁶

• Drooling
• Headache
• Decreased ability to taste
• Changes in saliva or tear production

In rare cases, Bell’s palsy can cause irreversible facial nerve damage and even lead to blindness in the eye patients can’t control due to corneal scratches and excessive dryness.⁷ Bell’s palsy is diagnosed following a physical exam. Typically, treatment isn’t needed as Bell’s palsy symptoms tend to disappear on their own.¹ However, Bell’s palsy patients may need to take eye drops to prevent excessive dryness in the eye they can’t control.¹a Certain medications or Bell’s palsy herbs may help in promoting nerve function, decreasing inflammation, and reducing symptoms.

References

1. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/bells-palsy
2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/basics/definition/con-20020529
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/basics/causes/con-20020529
4. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/basics/risk-factors/con-20020529
5. https://medlineplus.gov/bellspalsy.html
6. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/basics/symptoms/con-20020529
7. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/basics/complications/con-20020529