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Facial Nerve Palsy: Will It Not Heal and Leave Aftereffects If Left Alone? Why You Shouldn't Miss the Golden Treatment Time

What if you suddenly looked in the mirror one day and one side of your face wouldn't move? Your mouth is crooked, your eyes won't close properly, and even making expressions becomes difficult. This is 'Facial Nerve Palsy' (Guanwasa). Many people come to us worried, asking, "Will it not heal and leave aftereffects if left alone?" Facial nerve palsy is a condition where early treatment is crucial; missing the window can lead to long-term cosmetic and functional distress.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of facial nerve palsy aftereffects: ① Inadequate management of initial inflammation / ② Delayed recovery of facial nerve damage / ③ Recovery hindered by autonomic nerve imbalance Dalimchae Clinic aims for Korean medicine complex treatment that increases the recovery power of the facial nerve and minimizes aftereffects based on autonomic nerve stabilization.

Facial nerve palsy can be divided into idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy) of unknown cause and symptomatic facial paralysis caused by herpes zoster virus, trauma, or cerebrovascular disease. In particular, idiopathic facial paralysis is known to occur when inflammation develops in the facial nerve due to factors such as decreased immunity or stress. The facial nerve comes out of the brain and controls the muscles of facial expression; when a problem occurs in this nerve, the facial muscles become paralyzed.

If the appropriate treatment period is missed or treatment is insufficient after the onset of facial nerve palsy, various aftereffects may remain. Representative aftereffects include ▲facial asymmetry ▲synkinesis (unwanted muscles moving together, such as the corner of the mouth rising when closing eyes) ▲muscle contracture (feeling of facial muscles hardening) ▲abnormal tear and salivary gland function ▲loss of taste ▲facial pain. These aftereffects go beyond daily inconvenience and can lead to social and psychological withdrawal, so active treatment from the beginning is necessary.

Facial nerve palsy aftereffects are caused by a complex interplay of abnormal regeneration of damaged facial nerves, chronic inflammatory reactions, and imbalances in the autonomic nervous system that regulates them. In Korean medicine, the causes of facial paralysis are seen as 'external wind and dampness attacking,' 'internal wind moving due to deficiency,' and 'stagnation of Qi and blood,' focusing on recovering damaged nerves, improving Qi and blood circulation, and increasing immunity to minimize aftereffects.

In particular, the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment for facial paralysis aftereffects is being proven through various studies. A study by Professor Jong-in Kim's team at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, published in the 『Journal of Acupuncture Research』 in 2015, conducted acupuncture treatment 3 times a week for 8 weeks (total 24 times) on 39 patients with idiopathic facial paralysis aftereffects. As a result, the acupuncture treatment group showed better therapeutic effects in social and physical aspects of facial paralysis aftereffects compared to the control group. The researchers concluded that acupuncture treatment significantly improved facial nerve function and stiffness, as well as facial symmetry, motor asymmetry, and synkinesis in the Facial Disability Index (FDI) score and the Sunnybrook Facial Nerve Grading system. These results suggest that acupuncture treatment can reduce discomfort and improve the quality of life for those suffering from facial nerve palsy aftereffects.

In addition, a study from Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University published in the 『Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society』 in 2011 reported that after performing thread-embedding therapy (Maeseon) on 27 patients with peripheral facial nerve paralysis aftereffects lasting more than 3 months, the Yanagihara score, number of symptoms, and symptom scores significantly decreased (p<0.05). This study shows that thread-embedding therapy can be effective in improving facial paralysis aftereffects.

A recent case report published by the Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute in 『Healthcare』 (SCI(E) international journal) in 2023 confirmed significant improvement in a patient with traumatic facial nerve paralysis due to a mandibular fracture after applying integrated Korean medicine treatment such as Chuna manual therapy, acupuncture/pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine prescriptions for 2 months. The patient's HB-Grade improved from grade 5 to grade 2, and the Yanagihara evaluation improved from 9 to 34 points. This shows that integrated Korean medicine treatment can be an alternative even for patients with traumatic facial nerve paralysis who did not improve with conventional Western medicine treatment. Based on these data, Dalimchae Clinic Incheon branch actively utilizes Korean medicine treatments that promote the regeneration of damaged facial nerves and alleviate inflammation in surrounding tissues when treating facial nerve palsy.

Facial nerve palsy is not just a problem of the facial muscles. It often occurs when the balance of the entire body is broken due to stress, overwork, and decreased immunity, which leads to an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system regulates all involuntary functions of our body and has a significant impact on the recovery of the facial nerve.

At Dalimchae Clinic, we focus on restoring the balance of the autonomic nervous system for facial nerve palsy patients. When the balance of the autonomic nervous system is broken, the brain cannot rest and the body's recovery system does not work properly. The key is to create an optimal environment for the damaged facial nerve to recover itself by alleviating excessive tension in the brain and nervous system, regulating inflammatory reactions. To achieve this, we apply various Korean medicine treatments such as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, Chuna, and moxibustion in a complex way tailored to the individual's symptoms and constitution. In particular, we focus on lowering the heat of the nervous system and creating an environment where the brain can rest—in Korean medicine, this is called 'Suseunghwagang' (water rising, fire descending). We restore the balance of the autonomic nervous system by facilitating the body's circulation and help with facial nerve rehabilitation.

If you fall under 3 or more of the items below, you may need professional consultation and treatment for facial nerve palsy aftereffects.

• You feel the corner of your mouth move involuntarily when you close your eyes. (Synkinesis)
• The paralyzed part of your face often feels stiff or tight. (Muscle contracture)
• When smiling or talking, the asymmetry of the left and right sides of your face is strongly felt.
• The eye on the paralyzed side is stiff or tears come out easily.
• When eating with the paralyzed side, it is often uncomfortable or leaks.
• You feel unexplained pain or abnormal sensations in your face.
• It has been more than 3 months since the onset of facial nerve palsy, but you feel that symptom improvement is slow.

3 or more items → Suspicion of chronic facial nerve palsy and aftereffects → Review Korean medicine complex treatment 5 or more items → Immediate visit and in-depth diagnosis recommended

Q. How long does facial nerve palsy treatment take? A. The duration of facial nerve palsy treatment varies depending on the cause, severity of symptoms, and individual immunity, but intensive treatment is usually provided within 3 weeks of the acute phase and within 3 months of the recovery period. Even if aftereffects remain, improvement in symptoms can be expected through active Korean medicine treatment.

Q. Can facial nerve palsy heal naturally? A. Some mild cases of facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy) may recover naturally, but only about 71% of patients recover completely, about 13% have slight aftereffects, and 16% may have severe aftereffects such as synkinesis and contracture. Especially for severe or elderly patients, the risk of aftereffects is high, so it is important to receive active treatment from the beginning.

Q. Can recurrence of facial nerve palsy be prevented with Korean medicine? A. Yes, it is possible. Facial nerve palsy is closely related to decreased immunity, stress, and overwork. Dalimchae Clinic helps prevent recurrence and maintain healthy conditions by restoring autonomic nerve balance and strengthening the overall immunity of the body.

Q. I am looking for a clinic that treats facial nerve palsy well in Incheon. What should I consider? A. When choosing an Incheon facial nerve palsy clinic, it is important to check the medical staff's experience and expertise in treating facial nerve palsy, and whether personalized treatment is possible. Dalimchae Clinic Incheon branch presents the most optimized treatment plan for each patient based on a deep understanding of facial nerve palsy rehabilitation and aftereffects treatment.

Facial nerve palsy is not a problem that can be solved by just enduring it. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body reacts faster than you think. Bring your symptoms as they are. Dalimchae Clinic will find the cause together.

A place where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Clinic. Check your symptoms first with Dalimchae Clinic's website AI consultation!

This health information was compiled by the Dalimchae medical team based on questions frequently asked in the examination room. Medical Supervision | Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch, Korean Medicine Doctor Min Ji-hong (Facial Palsy Column) #FacialNervePalsy #FacialParalysis #AutonomicNerves #IncheonFacialPalsyClinic #IncheonKoreanMedicineClinic #FacialPalsyAftereffects #KoreanMedicineTreatment