What is Bell's Palsy? Symptoms and Treatment

One of the main symptoms of Bell's palsy is temporary paralysis of the face due to damage to one of the facial nerves. Very often, the symptoms of Bell's palsy affect just one side, and very rarely both sides of the face. One of the problems in the treatment of Bell's palsy is that the condition comes on very suddenly and the permanent damage can occur. Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon who lived in the 19th century was the first to notice this condition as a distinct disease, and was the pioneer in the treatment of Bell's palsy.

There are a number of early warning signs that should be looked out for. The early symptoms of Bell's palsy might begin with twitching, a drooping eyelid or weakness, temporary paralysis, or a lot of tearing of the eye. Conversely, there could also be dry eye syndrome, a lack of taste in the mouth, or a drooping of the corner of the mouth as well as drooling. Once the symptoms of Bell's palsy appear it can very quickly progress to a peak where the distortion of the face is severe.

Causes of Bell's Palsy

Most physicians believe that Bell's palsy is due to a viral infection from either a cold sore virus called the herpes simplex, or the meningitis virus. The symptoms of Bell's palsy become apparent when the facial nerve gets inflamed and swells up. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conduct a lot of studies and supports research across the country into the causes and treatment of Bell's palsy. A lot of this research focuses on the symptoms of Bell's palsy, where the nerve is damaged, and how this damage could be repaired. It is in this way that NINDS hopes to be able to develop an effective treatment for Bell's palsy in the future.

Natural Treatment of Bell's Palsy

The most effective treatment of Bell's palsy involves the prevention of attacks, and this means lowering blood sugar and blood pressure levels. Unfortunately there are no drugs in conventional western medicine currently available for the treatment of Bell's palsy. However, Chinese traditional methods have seen a lot of success. There are herbal Chinese medicines that help that include horse chestnut seed as the active ingredient. Traditionally, horse chestnut has been used for all kinds of pain relief, including the treatment of rheumatism and headaches.

One must remember that speed is of the essence as soon as the symptoms of Bell's palsy appear. Medical help must be sought so that the treatment of Bell's palsy can be begun as quickly as possible.