Facial Palsy (Bell's Palsy) — The First 72 Hours Are Decisive

One side of the face suddenly stops moving

Bell's palsy is an acute paralysis of one facial nerve in which forehead wrinkles disappear, the eye cannot close, and the corner of the mouth droops. About 1–2% of the population experiences it at least once in their lifetime, and it often appears after stress, fatigue, or exposure to cold wind.

The 72-hour golden window

Facial palsy has a much better prognosis when treatment begins within 72 hours of onset. Conventional medicine starts high-dose steroids, while Korean medicine begins acupuncture and herbal therapy. Combined treatment is ideal.

Korean medicine diagnosis: invasion by wind-cold

• Wind-cold invades the facial meridians and blocks circulation of qi and blood, depriving muscles of nourishment and causing paralysis.
• Acute stage (1–2 weeks): Expel wind and disperse cold (祛風散寒)
• Recovery stage (2–8 weeks): Tonify qi and invigorate blood (補氣活血)

Key acupuncture points

• Qianzheng, Dicang (ST4), Jiache (ST6), Yangbai (GB14): Core points for restoring facial muscle function
• Hegu (LI4): Following the classical principle "For disorders of the face and mouth, choose Hegu"
• Electroacupuncture: A mild electrical current induces gentle muscle contraction to prevent atrophy

Precautions

• If the eye cannot close, artificial tears and an eye patch are essential to protect the cornea.
• Vigorous facial massage in the acute stage may cause synkinesis — only gentle stimulation is recommended.
• Most patients recover within 3–6 months, but complete paralysis or older age may leave residual effects.