Facial palsy, also known as peripheral facial palsy and Bell’s palsy, is an acute non-suppurative inflammatory disease of the facial nerve in the internal segment of the facial nerve canal above the foramen ovale. The main manifestation is the sudden onset of one side of the face and the tilting of the eyes and mouth, mostly caused by sudden and strong cold stimulation, but also after viral infection, bacterial infection, or tumor compression, resulting in spasm of the nutrient microvessels of the facial nerve, causing local tissue ischemia and hypoxia.
Facial palsy is a common disease that can develop at any age, and now it is the high incidence of facial palsy, which should be taken seriously. According to Chinese medicine, the disease is caused by the lack of positive energy, the vacancy of the veins and ligaments, the lack of solidity of the external guard, the invasion of wind and evil into the veins and ligaments, the paralysis of qi and blood on the side, and the loss of moistening of the veins and ligaments, resulting in the slackening and weakness of the facial muscles on one side and the distortion of the healthy side by pulling. Therefore, there are certain rules to follow in the prevention and treatment of this disease.
1. Firstly, it is differentiated from central facial palsy.
We know that facial palsy is divided into two types: central facial palsy is a cerebrovascular disease, while peripheral facial palsy is a simple facial neuropathy. If you don’t know how to differentiate, you will easily think that facial palsy is a disease in the brain when you see it, resulting in unnecessary panic and unnecessary examination costs. In fact, the simplest point of differentiation between the two is that the former does not involve the frontal muscles, and there will be no change in the eyes or eyebrows, while the latter is paralysis of the entire side of the facial expression muscles, which is still not difficult to differentiate.
2. Secondly, pay attention to prevention.
Cold stimulation is an important factor in the onset of facial palsy. Strenuous hot and cold alternation and prolonged unilateral exposure to cold, such as sleeping under an open window or in the direction of the penetrating wind; window breeze and air conditioning blowing directly on the face; washing the face with cold water when there is sweat; no temperature transition from hot to cold environment and not paying attention to keeping the head and neck warm are all high-risk factors for the onset of facial palsy and should be avoided.
Exercise to enhance physical fitness and increase resistance. According to Chinese medicine, “When the righteousness exists within, the evil cannot dry up; when the evil comes together, its energy will be deficient.” In the case of a strong body and high resistance, if the disease-causing factors are not too strong, it is possible to resist the attack of the evil and not develop.
3. Self-massage can improve the efficacy of treatment.
If once facial palsy occurs, seek medical attention in time. After timely and appropriate treatment, facial palsy can be completely cured. In order to cooperate with the doctor’s treatment, we can perform self-massage at home. The specific operation methods are described as follows.
3.1. Preparation. It is better to take the lying position, if you take the sitting position, you should lean your head against the wall. The patient’s mind focused. Massage before doing hot compresses or Chinese medicine decoction (Gui Zhi 9 grams, Fang Feng 9 grams, Su Ye 9 grams) soaked wet towel hot compresses. Beware of the liquid accidentally into the eye.
3.2. Wheel scraping eyelids. Using the ribbed surfaces of the index and middle fingers of both hands as the surgical ends, scrape the upper and lower eyelids 50 times each from the inner canthus of the eye outward, and then lightly rub the eyelids for 20-30 turns.
3.3. Finger rubbing of the nose. Using the ribbed surface of the index fingers of both hands as the surgical end, rub the nose from both sides of the root down to the Yingxiang points on both sides of the nose 50 times, and then lightly press and knead the points for 1-2 minutes (the Yingxiang points are 0.5 cm away from the nose).
3.4. twist the Sibai point. This point is located in the recess of the infraorbital foramen, directly below the pupil. Use the index finger to twist the four white points, applying gradual pressure as you do so. Continue for 1-2 minutes.
3.5. Palm rubbing of the buccal carriage and digastric points. Use the masseter muscle of the ipsilateral hand to press against the cheek car point (masticatory muscle) on the sick side, and move to the dicang point (0.5 cm from the corner of the mouth) while rubbing, 50 times round trip.
4. Home care
4.1. In the acute stage, pay attention to rest, keep the affected side of the neck (behind the ear) warm, and apply heat to the posterior part of the ear and the frontal face of the diseased side frequently to facilitate the recovery of the facial nerve.
4.2. Early facial massage on the affected side, twice a day for 30 minutes each time.
4.3. When the affected eyelid is not fully closed, it is difficult to block dust from entering the eye. Eye drops and eye ointment should be used promptly, and eye shields can also be worn to prevent conjunctivitis and keratitis.
4.4. Diet should be careful: do not eat irritating foods, and try to eat a semi-fluid or soft diet made of coarse grains or coarse flour.
4.5. Clean the mouth after meals to prevent food residue on the affected side.
4.6. Keep emotionally stable, do not be impatient. Do not “rush to the doctor”, so as not to miss the best treatment time, or the formation of facial muscle spasm and other intractable sequelae.
5. Two medicinal meals.
Dried ginger and lamb porridge
Ingredients: 10g dried ginger, lamb 50g, rice 250g, salt 3g.
Method: dry ginger finely shredded, lamb washed and shredded; rice poured and washed to remove the sediment. Put all ingredients together in a stew pot, set the fire to boil, and then cook for 45 minutes.
Efficacy: warming the middle and expelling cold, return Yang and open the veins.
Indications: Used for patients with wind-cold type of facial neuritis.
Milk and oyster drink
Ingredients: 15g of raw earth, 250g of milk, 100g of oyster, 20g of sugar.
How to do it: Raw earth sliced, oyster meat washed and sliced. Put the raw earth and oyster into a stew cup, add sugar and fill with 200ml of water, put it on the fire and boil it for 25 minutes, then add milk.
Effects: Calming the liver and submerging the yang, softening the hardness and dispersing the knots.
Indications: For patients with facial neuritis.