How acupuncture can help with Bell’s Palsy

Clinical trials suggest that acupuncture is at least as effective as corticosteroids and may improve recovery in patients with Bell’s palsy, either used alone or in combination with drug treatment. Note though that most of the trials to date have been of poor quality which allows only tentative conclusions to be reached.

Acupuncture may help in the treatment of Bell’s palsy by:

• reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors
• enhancing local microcirculation, by increasing the diameter and blood flow velocity of peripheral arterioles
• nerve and muscular stimulation.