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Definition: Bell's palsy is named after the Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who first described it.
It is defined as a sudden, idiopathic, unilateral peripheral 7th cranial nerve (the facial nerve)
palsy. Dysfunction of the facial nerve results in the inability to control facial muscles on the
affected side.
Symptoms: Sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the face, droopy eyelid or corner of
the mouth, drooling, excessive tearing or dry eye, loss of the ability to taste, pain in or behind
the ear, numbness in the affected side of the face, and increased sensitivity to sound.
Cause: Cause is unknown, but the mechanism is presumably swelling of the facial nerve due to
an immune or viral disorder. Bell's palsy affects about 2 in 10,000 people. Many disorders
cause facial paralysis, e.g. brain tumor, stroke, geniculate herpes, middle ear or mastoid
infections, chronic meningitis, and Lyme disease. However, if no specific cause can be identified,
the condition is known as Bell's palsy, and is commonly referred to as idiopathic.
Prognosis & Treatment: In many cases, no treatment is needed. About 60-80% of cases go
away completely within a few weeks to months. However, sometimes the condition results in
permanent changes. Doctors may prescribe corticosteroids (such as prednisone) if the cause is
inflammation, or antiviral drugs (such as acyclovir) if it's caused by a virus. Acupuncture,
cupping, and herbal medicine can significantly improve results and help to resolve the condition.
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT
TCM Points:
1. Primary points: ST4 & ST6, SJ17 & GB20, LI4 & LV3
2. Secondary points: LI20, LI19, DU26, RN24, GB14, ST2, ST3, KD6, Qian Zheng
Tung Points:
1. Treatment A: Si Hua Wai (77.14), Ce San Li (77.22), Ce Xia San Li (77.23)
2. Treatment B: San Zhong (77.07), Si Ma (88.17), Tong Shen (88.09)
Bleeding:
Bleed the cheek, inside the mouth on the affected side
1. Wind-Phlegm in the Channel: bell's palsy, acute onset, a thin-white tongue coating, and a
floating-slippery pulse
6.0g Bai Fu Zi (typhonium rhizome)
6.0g Jiang Can (silkworm)
4.5g Quan Xie (scorpion): 2-4.5g (decoction); 0.6-1g (powder)
+
6.0g Bai Zhi (angelica root)
6.0g Chuan Xiong (szechuan lovage root)
This formula is modified Qian Zheng San (Lead to symmetry powder). This formula can treat
bell's palsy, migraine, and hemiplegia due to Wind-Phlegm in the channel. Bai Fu Zi can expel
Wind and dissolve phlegm, especially in the facial area. Jiang Can and Quan Xie both treat Wind
and convulsions. Jiang Can treats Phlegm better and Quan Xie opens the Channels better. Bai
Zhi and Chuan Xiong are good guiding herbs to the face and head area, and they both relieve
Wind and Pain. Taking these with warm liquor will improve the opening actions.
Note: Qian Zheng San (Bai Fu Zi, Jiang Can, Quan Xie) can be used as a basic formula if the
pattern differentiation is unclear. Try Qian Zheng San + Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang for early cases
of bell's palsy. If bell's palsy is over 3 weeks, try Qian Zheng San + Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang.
2. Blood deficiency with Wind: bell's palsy, chronic, dizziness, insomnia, palpitations, a thin-
white tongue coating, and a wiry-thready pulse
3. Qi and Blood deficiency: bell's palsy, slow recovery, fatigue, shortness of breath, a dark
tongue color, and a thready-hesitant pulse.
This formula is modified Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang (Tonify the yang to restore five decoction). Bu
Yang Huan Wu Tang popularly used for sequela of stroke due to a deficiency pattern. It
addresses hemiplegia of a deficiency pattern with a large dosage of Huang Qi. With Quan Xie
and Jiang Can, it treats bell's palsy of the Qi and blood deficiency type.
Definition: Bell's palsy is named after the Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who first described it.
It is defined as a sudden, idiopathic, unilateral peripheral 7th cranial nerve (the facial nerve)
palsy. Dysfunction of the facial nerve results in the inability to control facial muscles on the
affected side.
Symptoms: Sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the face, droopy eyelid or corner of
the mouth, drooling, excessive tearing or dry eye, loss of the ability to taste, pain in or behind
the ear, numbness in the affected side of the face, and increased sensitivity to sound.
Cause: Cause is unknown, but the mechanism is presumably swelling of the facial nerve due to
an immune or viral disorder. Bell's palsy affects about 2 in 10,000 people. Many disorders
cause facial paralysis, e.g. brain tumor, stroke, geniculate herpes, middle ear or mastoid
infections, chronic meningitis, and Lyme disease. However, if no specific cause can be identified,
the condition is known as Bell's palsy, and is commonly referred to as idiopathic.
Prognosis & Treatment: In many cases, no treatment is needed. About 60-80% of cases go
away completely within a few weeks to months. However, sometimes the condition results in
permanent changes. Doctors may prescribe corticosteroids (such as prednisone) if the cause is
inflammation, or antiviral drugs (such as acyclovir) if it's caused by a virus. Acupuncture,
cupping, and herbal medicine can significantly improve results and help to resolve the condition.
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT
TCM Points:
1. Primary points: ST4 & ST6, SJ17 & GB20, LI4 & LV3
2. Secondary points: LI20, LI19, DU26, RN24, GB14, ST2, ST3, KD6, Qian Zheng
Tung Points:
1. Treatment A: Si Hua Wai (77.14), Ce San Li (77.22), Ce Xia San Li (77.23)
2. Treatment B: San Zhong (77.07), Si Ma (88.17), Tong Shen (88.09)
Bleeding:
Bleed the cheek, inside the mouth on the affected side
PATTERNS AND HERBAL FORMULAS
1. Wind-Phlegm in the Channel: bell's palsy, acute onset, a thin-white tongue coating, and a
floating-slippery pulse
This formula is modified Qian Zheng San (Lead to symmetry powder). This formula can treat
bell's palsy, migraine, and hemiplegia due to Wind-Phlegm in the channel. Bai Fu Zi can expel
Wind and dissolve phlegm, especially in the facial area. Jiang Can and Quan Xie both treat Wind
and convulsions. Jiang Can treats Phlegm better and Quan Xie opens the Channels better. Bai
Zhi and Chuan Xiong are good guiding herbs to the face and head area, and they both relieve
Wind and Pain. Taking these with warm liquor will improve the opening actions.
Note: Qian Zheng San (Bai Fu Zi, Jiang Can, Quan Xie) can be used as a basic formula if the
pattern differentiation is unclear. Try Qian Zheng San + Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang for early cases
of bell's palsy. If bell's palsy is over 3 weeks, try Qian Zheng San + Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang.
2. Blood deficiency with Wind: bell's palsy, chronic, dizziness, insomnia, palpitations, a thin-
white tongue coating, and a wiry-thready pulse
3. Qi and Blood deficiency: bell's palsy, slow recovery, fatigue, shortness of breath, a dark
tongue color, and a thready-hesitant pulse.
120g Huang Qi (milk-vetch root)
6.0g Dang Gui Wei (tail of chinese angelica root)
4.5g Chi Shao (red peony root)
3.0g Di Long (earthworm)
3.0g Chuan Xiong (szechuan lovage root)
3.0g Tao Ren (peach kernel)
3.0g Hong Hua (safflower)
+
3.0g Quan Xie (scorpion)
4.5g Jiang Can (silkworm)
This formula is modified Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang (Tonify the yang to restore five decoction). Bu
Yang Huan Wu Tang popularly used for sequela of stroke due to a deficiency pattern. It
addresses hemiplegia of a deficiency pattern with a large dosage of Huang Qi. With Quan Xie
and Jiang Can, it treats bell's palsy of the Qi and blood deficiency type.
EMPIRICAL FORMULAS
Empirical Formula 2: Expel Wind and Calm Liver, Activate Blood and Open the Channels
9.0g Dang Gui (chinese angelica root)
9.0g Chuan Xiong (szechuan lovage root)
3p. Wu Gong (centipede): 1-3g (decoction); 0.6-1g (powder)
6.0g Chan Tui (cicada molting)
6.0g Gan Cao (licorice root)
9p. Di Long (earthworm): fried
12g Bai Fu Zi (typhonium rhizome)
12g Fang Feng (siler root)
12g Gou Teng (gambir vine)
12g Jiang Can (silkworm)
Empirical Formula 3: Expel Wind, Disperse Cold, Open the Channels
4.5g Quan Xie (scorpion)
9.0g Bai Fu Zi (typhonium rhizome)
9.0g Jiang Can (silkworm)
9.0g Chuan Xiong (szechuan lovage root)
9.0g Jing Jie (schizonepeta)
9.0g Fang Feng (siler root)
9.0g Bai Zhi (angelica root)
9.0g Qiang Huo (notopterygium root)
3.0g Bo He (field mint)
EMPIRICAL FORMULAS
Empirical Formula 2: Expel Wind and Calm Liver, Activate Blood and Open the Channels
9.0g Dang Gui (chinese angelica root)
9.0g Chuan Xiong (szechuan lovage root)
3p. Wu Gong (centipede): 1-3g (decoction); 0.6-1g (powder)
6.0g Chan Tui (cicada molting)
6.0g Gan Cao (licorice root)
9p. Di Long (earthworm): fried
12g Bai Fu Zi (typhonium rhizome)
12g Fang Feng (siler root)
12g Gou Teng (gambir vine)
12g Jiang Can (silkworm)
Empirical Formula 3: Expel Wind, Disperse Cold, Open the Channels
4.5g Quan Xie (scorpion)
9.0g Bai Fu Zi (typhonium rhizome)
9.0g Jiang Can (silkworm)
9.0g Chuan Xiong (szechuan lovage root)
9.0g Jing Jie (schizonepeta)
9.0g Fang Feng (siler root)
9.0g Bai Zhi (angelica root)
9.0g Qiang Huo (notopterygium root)
3.0g Bo He (field mint)