Bell’s Palsy, known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as 面癱 or 口眼歪斜, is a sudden weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face. It is often triggered by exposure to wind-cold, stress, or immune imbalance. The affected person may experience facial drooping, inability to close one eye, crooked smile, and loss of facial expression.
This condition can have a strong emotional and social impact, making eating, speaking, or even blinking difficult. If not treated properly in the early stage, long-term facial asymmetry or nerve damage can result.
TCM views Bell’s Palsy as an external invasion of wind, especially wind-cold, disrupting the normal flow of Qi and blood in the facial channels. Treatments like moxibustion and acupuncture are commonly used to warm the meridians, dispel wind, and restore muscle movement. Herbal formulas may also be prescribed to support recovery and nourish the nerves.
For example, a patient who developed Bell’s Palsy after sleeping with a fan directly on their face responded well to a combined treatment of facial moxibustion and warming herbs. Over a few weeks, muscle tone improved and normal movement returned.
