Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy in London

A growing number of studies now show that acupuncture may be a very effective therapeutic treatment for the effects of Bell’s Palsy, a condition that causes temporary paralysis or weakness in the facial muscles.

Bell’s Palsy, which is thought to affect around 24,000 people in the UK, is not life threatening, but it can be life-changing, affecting speech and the ability to smile, among other things.

However, it is a condition that is commonly treated by acupuncture therapy in China, and studies in other parts of the world have increasingly begun to conclude that acupuncture is a useful addition to the health management of those who suffer from it.

What is Bell’s Palsy and how can acupuncture help?

Bell’s palsy generally affects people over the age of 15 but under the age of 60 and is usually the result of inflammation to the facial nerves. It is commonly caused by a viral infection and the consequent suppression of the immune system, but is also associated with diabetes.

It’s a condition that often arrives without warning, but although the effects of it can last for a prolonged period (recovery is usually anywhere between 2 weeks and 9 months) and in rare cases the symptoms don’t fully disappear, it is not considered permanent.

While most patients make a full recovery, around 1 in every hundred is left with some weakness in the face.

Apart from the changes in appearance that Bell’s palsy can cause, it can also affect the eyelids and the mouth, making it hard to open and close them. Understandably, living with the effects of Bell’s palsy can trigger psychological issues such as depression in patients.

Used as a standalone therapy or as part of an integrative approach to your health management working alongside your clinical care team, our acupuncture treatment in London can help to reduce inflammation and stimulate facial nerves and muscles to assist recovery.

How does acupuncture for Bell’s palsy work?

Acupuncture works to restore balance to the body’s natural healing energy that all of us have.

Many of the health conditions we experience – from the common cold to more severe issues that may also require clinical treatment – go hand in hand with disruption to, or a blockage in, that healing energy.

Acupuncture uses superfine needles inserted painlessly under the skin at strategic points on the body to stimulate that energy, helping to clear any blockages and restore the natural flow.

In turn, this can help to make our immune system more efficient, reduce local inflammation and stimulate facial nerves and muscles aiding faster recovery, and because acupuncture is holistic – meaning it treats the whole mind and body, not just the symptoms of a single condition – it can have wider health benefits, too.

It is particularly helpful in helping you manage the psychological effect of temporary disfigurement.

Who can benefit from acupuncture for Bell’s palsy in London?

Whether you’ve been recently diagnosed with the condition, are on your recovery journey, or you’re one of the very few unlucky people who have been left with some persistent symptoms, acupuncture can help to support your recovery and come to terms with the temporary or longer-lasting effects of Bell’s palsy.

Seeking acupuncture treatment as quickly as possible after a Bell’s palsy diagnosis is likely to improve the effectiveness of that treatment and lead to more rapid alleviation of your symptoms.

If you’d like to know more about how acupuncture can support your recovery, please get in touch for a confidential no-obligation chat.