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Can Facial Paralysis Heal on Its Own? Don't Miss the Golden Time.

How would you feel if, one morning, you looked in the mirror and found that one side of your face wasn't moving the way you wanted it to? Even if you try to smile, only one corner of your mouth goes up, and your eyes don't close properly, making even washing your face uncomfortable. You might even experience spilling water while drinking or having slurred speech. Sudden facial paralysis not only causes great discomfort in daily life but also easily brings about psychological shock and anxiety. If you ignore it, thinking "Maybe I'm just tired for a bit?" or "It'll be okay after some time," it can lead to permanent aftereffects, so more caution is needed.

💡 [Key Answer] Can facial paralysis heal on its own? The most important answer to this is "NO, the risk of aftereffects increases significantly if left untreated." 3 most common causes of facial paralysis: ① Decreased immunity and autonomic imbalance due to extreme stress and overwork ② Viral infection (zoster virus, herpes virus, etc.) ③ Exposure to cold air and trauma (traffic accidents, fractures, etc.) Dalimchae Clinic fundamentally improves these complex causes of facial paralysis with autonomic stabilization treatment.

Facial paralysis is a disease that occurs due to damage to the facial nerve, the 7th cranial nerve responsible for facial movement. The facial nerve comes from the brain and leads to the facial muscles, regulating various functions such as facial expression, tear and saliva secretion, and taste. If there's a problem with this nerve, weakness or paralysis of one or both sides of the facial muscles appears.

One of the most common causes is idiopathic facial paralysis, called 'Bell's palsy.' In many cases, the clear cause is unknown, but recent studies point to decreased immunity due to extreme stress and overwork, and viral infections (especially herpes virus) as the main causes. This is because when our body's immunity falls, it becomes vulnerable to viruses that attack the nerves. Also, there are cases where the facial nerve is directly damaged due to exposure to cold air, external impact, or trauma (e.g., mandibular fracture).

Damage to these facial nerves eventually affects the balance of the autonomic nervous system throughout the brain and the entire body, potentially worsening symptoms or slowing recovery. The autonomic nervous system regulates all unconscious functions of our body, and facial paralysis patients sometimes complain of facial blood flow regulation abnormalities, stiffness, coldness, and edema due to autonomic disharmony.

We often hear the question, "I heard facial paralysis can heal even if left alone?" Indeed, it is reported that about 70-80% of Bell's palsy patients recover naturally within 1-3 months even without special treatment. However, the remaining 15-30% of patients experience incomplete recovery or permanent aftereffects. Facial paralysis can leave serious aftereffects such as contracture, synkinesis, spasms, and crocodile tear syndrome starting from about 3-6 months after onset.

In particular, it is very important to start intensive treatment within 72 hours after the onset of facial paralysis. This period is called the 'Golden Time,' and if proper treatment is carried out during this time, the nerve recovery speed increases and the possibility of aftereffects can be significantly lowered. As the treatment period is delayed, nerve damage deepens and recovery can become difficult, so it is wise to visit a medical institution without delay when symptoms appear. Incheon facial paralysis clinics provide customized treatment suited to each individual's symptoms and constitution without missing this golden time.

Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch actively utilizes Korean medicine treatment to manage the fundamental cause of facial paralysis and help rapid recovery. In particular, acupuncture treatment is effective in improving blood circulation around the facial nerve and promoting the regeneration of damaged nerves.

In a study published in PMC in 2025, the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment were evaluated in 40 patients with intractable facial paralysis (IFP). This study, conducted from December 2022 to December 2023, confirmed that acupuncture treatment effectively improved clinical symptoms of IFP patients, showed therapeutic effects even in the aftereffects stage, and could promote cortical functional reorganization in facial paralysis patients.

In addition, in a study by the Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute published in the SCI(E)-grade international journal Healthcare in 2023, as a result of conducting integrated Korean medicine treatment (Chuna therapy, acupuncture/pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine prescription) for a patient with traumatic facial nerve paralysis due to a mandibular fracture, it was confirmed that the patient's facial nerve function recovered close to normal in two months. The research team evaluated the before and after treatment using the HB-Grade (House-Brackmann Grading System) scale, which is widely used in diagnosing facial nerve paralysis symptoms. These research results suggest that Korean medicine treatment has a positive effect on the recovery of facial paralysis. Based on this data, Dalimchae Clinic focuses on helping facial paralysis recovery and minimizing aftereffects through autonomic stabilization treatment optimized for each patient's condition.

Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch views facial paralysis not simply as a problem with facial muscles, but as a signal that our body's fundamental balance is broken. In particular, we judge that the imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, which is closely connected to the brain, has a great impact on the occurrence and recovery of facial paralysis.

The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, regulating all functions such as tension and relaxation, digestion, circulation, and immunity of our body. Excessive stress, overwork, and lack of sleep over-activate the sympathetic nervous system, keeping the body in a constant state of tension, which leads to decreased immunity and creates an environment where inflammation is likely to occur in the facial nerve. Also, autonomic disharmony hinders blood circulation in the facial area, potentially slowing nerve recovery.

At Dalimchae Clinic, we take autonomic stabilization treatment as the core to solve these problems. By lowering the excessive heat of the nervous system and creating an environment where the brain can sufficiently rest, we regain the body's function to recover on its own. In Korean medicine, this is sometimes expressed as 'Suseunghwagang (水昇火降),' which is the principle of matching the blood circulation and balance of the entire body by keeping the head cool and the lower abdomen warm. Through various Korean medicine treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, and pharmacopuncture, we regain the balance of the autonomic nervous system, calm the inflammation of the facial nerve, and promote the regeneration of damaged nerve tissue. Many people seeking Incheon autonomic nervous system clinics are experiencing improvement not only in facial paralysis symptoms but also in accompanying autonomic imbalance symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and sleep disorders through these customized treatments.

If 3 or more of the items below apply, you can suspect the possibility of facial paralysis. For accurate diagnosis and treatment, it is recommended to visit Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch for a consultation.

[Facial Paralysis Self-Diagnosis Checklist]

1. Left-right facial asymmetry appears noticeably.
2. Eyes do not close completely, or tears flow frequently.
3. The corner of the mouth droops to one side, or water or food leaks to one side.
4. It is difficult to wrinkle the forehead, or making expressions is unnatural.
5. There is pain or a dull feeling behind the ear or in the face.
6. It is difficult to chew food, or speech has become slurred.
7. Sounds sound too loud, or there is tinnitus in one ear.
8. There is a feeling of stiffness or swelling in the face, or a sensation of coldness.

• If 3 or more apply: Early facial paralysis or autonomic imbalance is suspected. Please consider integrated Korean medicine treatment.
• If 5 or more apply: Immediate visit and precise diagnosis are recommended. It is important not to miss the golden time.

Q. How long does facial paralysis treatment take? A. The treatment period for facial paralysis varies depending on the severity of the patient's symptoms, the time of onset, the cause, and individual recovery power. Usually, it takes 1-2 months in the acute phase, and chronic aftereffects treatment can take several months or more. Intensive treatment within the initial golden time results in faster recovery and fewer aftereffects.

Q. Can facial paralysis aftereffects also be treated with Korean medicine? A. Yes, facial paralysis aftereffects can also be improved with Korean medicine treatment. Aftereffects such as contracture, synkinesis, and spasms occur when already damaged nerves regenerate incorrectly or muscle tension persists, and Korean medicine treatment helps to relax this and assist nerve regeneration to recover function.

Q. I have other diseases along with facial paralysis, can they be treated together? A. Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch integrally treats autonomic imbalance symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, and insomnia that accompany facial paralysis. Since we see the fundamental cause of facial paralysis as an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, we help to recover overall physical health by improving related symptoms together.

Q. Can facial paralysis recur? A. Facial paralysis is known to recur in about 8% of patients. In particular, the risk of recurrence increases when stress, overwork, and decreased immunity are severe, so it is important to continuously manage your body and maintain autonomic balance even after treatment.

Facial paralysis is not a problem solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, the body responds faster than you think. Bring your symptoms exactly as they are. At Dalimchae Clinic, we will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Clinic website first!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Brain and Autonomic Nervous System Treatment Standards Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Yang Yuchan (Facial Paralysis Column)