Bell's Palsy‧面癱

Bell's Palsy, otherwise known as idiopathic facial paralysis, is a disease caused by damage to either the facial nerves (the peripheral nervous system) or the central nervous system; however, it tends to affect the peripheral more than the central nervous system. Symptoms often include tingling or numbness in the affected region along with an inability to lift or close one eye; difficulty moving facial muscles on one side of the face; lacrimation; distortion of taste; and tingling around the lip area on the affected side. 　　While the cause of Bell's Palsy has not been confirmed, it is likely that an inflammation of unknown origin affecting the facial nerve, resulting in acute paralysis of one side of the face. Bell's Palsy affects approximately 50, 000 people in the U.S. each year. The prognosis for Bell's Palsy ranges from complete recovery within a few months (85%) to chronic symptoms of facial paralysis (15%). Conventional treatment includes corticosteroids, antiviral agents, botulinum toxin, painkillers, massage, and surgery. 　　In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this condition is due to pathogenic wind-cold attacking the Shaoyang and Yangming meridians. Treatment principle involves a few distal and several local acupuncture points to eliminate wind. This facilitates circulation and the flow of qi in the Shaoyang and Yangming meridians, thus removing obstruction and restoring facial nerve functions. Though this aspect of acupuncture is not widely known; we often advise a patient who develops facial paralysis to consider this option as soon as possible. The sooner treatment is administered, the higher the chance of recovery.

面癱，學名面神經麻痺，也稱面神經炎、貝爾氏麻痺、亨特綜合症，主要表現是面部運動功能障礙，如口角流涎、口眼歪斜、面部表情怪異、僵硬等。它是一種常見病、多發病，它不受年齡限制。患者面部往往連最基本的抬眉、閉眼、鼓嘴等動作都無法完成。 　　根據病變部位不同，一般分為周圍性和中樞性兩種。面神經核以上至大腦皮層中樞間的病損所引起的面肌癱瘓為核上性面癱，或稱中樞性面癱。其特點是：患側的對側眼眶以下的面肌癱瘓、常伴有面癱同側的肢體偏癱和無味覺與唾液分泌障礙。第二種是面神經核及面神經病損所引起的面癱稱周圍性面癱。其特點是：患側所有的面肌均癱瘓、如有肢體癱瘓，常為面癱對側的肢體受累和患側舌前可有三分之二的味覺減退及唾液分泌障礙。 　　現代醫學對面癱的確切病因尚未明了，通常認為可能是局部炎症所致。依中醫論證本病多因正氣不足，絡脈空虛，衛氣不固，風邪乘虛而入中經絡，氣血痹阻，氣血不能上灌於足陽明經，致使面部肌肉失於氣血濡養而縱緩不收所致。中醫治則：祛風通絡，針灸治療本病是可行有效之法。