Ayurvedic Home Remedies And Herbal Remedies For Bell’s Palsy
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Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s Palsy is a rare condition that causes temporary weakness or paralysis in the muscles on one side of the face. It affects around one in 5,000 people a year and most commonly affects people under 60. Risk factors for Bell's palsy include pregnancy, preeclampsia, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and upper respiratory ailments. It begins suddenly and worsens over 48 hours. This condition results from damage to the facial nerve called the 7th cranial nerve. Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head. The exact reason why Bell’s palsy occurs is not clear, but it’s often associated with a viral infection. In the majority of cases, facial paralysis from Bell's palsy is temporary, and you can experience gradual improvement after about two weeks. Within three months, most people have recovered the full motion and function of their faces. Facial exercises and physical therapy for Bell's palsy help to increase muscle strength and to regain facial coordination from temporary facial paralysis.
In Ayurveda, this condition is termed as Ardita. Ayurvedic textbooks say that it is a condition caused due to the unusual function of Vata which turns the mouth or face in the opposite direction. It is considered as one among the eighty Vata Nanatmaja Vyadhis in Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic approach believes that Bell’s palsy can be effectively managed through Panchakarma and palliative treatment because it is proved as a good remedy for Bell's palsy.
Symptoms Of Bell's Palsy
The main signs and symptoms of Bell's palsy include rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of your face. Other signs are:
- Drooling.
- Headache.
- A loss of taste.
- Changes in the number of tears and saliva you produce.
- Facial droop and difficulty making facial expressions, such as closing your eyes or smiling.
- Increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side.
- Pain around the jaw or in or behind your ear on the affected side.
- Increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side.
Causes Of Bell's Palsy
The exact reason Bell's palsy occurs isn't clear, but it is often related to having a viral infection. Viruses that have been linked to Bell's palsy include:
- Cold sores and genital herpes (herpes simplex).
- Chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster).
- Infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr).
- Cytomegalovirus infections.
- Respiratory illnesses (adenovirus).
- German measles (rubella).
- Mumps (mumps virus).
- Flu (influenza B).
- Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (coxsackievirus).
Ayurvedic Treatment For Facial Palsy Or Bell's Palsy
The main aim of the treatment is to restore the strength of your facial muscles, improve blood circulation, rejuvenate your nerves, and prevent further attacks. This can be obtained through internal medicine as well as external modalities.
Internal medications include herbal decoctions which reduce inflammation, special tablets, churnas, ghee preparations that can pierce the blood-brain barrier and increase regeneration.
External modalities include Panchakarma treatments. The main panchakarma treatments for facial palsy are:
- Abhyanga
Abhyanga is a massage that is done with warm medicated oil. It improves eyesight, nourishes muscles, and improves age and skin complexion.
- Swedana, or mild sweating
It means medicated steam is given to the body. It reduces pain as well as stiffness. It is an effective remedy for Bell’s palsy.
- Nasya
Nasya means instillation of medicine thru the nostrils. According to Charaka, Nasya karma has beneficial effects in the specific treatment of Ardit Roga. Nasya therapy offers symptomatic relief in facial paralysis since it offers effective body purification, especially in the upper body part.
- Shiro abhyanga
Shiro Abhyanga is a traditional Ayurvedic therapy involving the application of warm, herb-infused oil over the head with a gentle massage. It is one of the most relaxing and stress-relieving procedures. This type of treatment effectively treats Bell's Palsy. With Shiro Abhyanga, the oil is absorbed into the deepest tissues of the scalp, nourishing the hair and skin and infusing the medicinal effect of the herbs into deeper layers of the body.
- Shirodhara
Shirodhara is a traditional Ayurvedic method of healing that has been in use since ancient times to bring the mind, body, and soul to a harmonious level. It is the best purifying and rejuvenating treatment for Bell's Palsy. According to Ayurveda, Shirodhara helps in pacifying the abnormal Vata doshas. The herbal oils used in this treatment balance the cool, light, and fluctuating nature of the Vata dosha and relieve the disease.
- External Lepa
Lepa includes all the medicines of Ayurveda that are applied externally on skin or wounds in the form of a layer of paste.
The external Ayurvedic therapies that are helpful for the proper management of bell's Palsy are Abhyanga, Swedana, Shiro Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Lepa, and Nasya.
Diet And Lifestyle Modifications
The following dietary and lifestyle changes help to heal facial paralysis.
- Avoid the intake of all kinds of chilled and refrigerated food items.
- Avoid taking in fermented foods.
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
- The use of curd and other sour foodstuffs must be avoided.
- Instead of eating rice, take wheat as food for consumption, and the same with cow milk in place of buffalo milk.
- Consume a simple and easily digestible diet.
- Practice yoga and pranayama to strengthen the nerves.
Ayurvedic Home Remedies
These Ayurvedic remedies help to heal the condition:
- Prepare a paste of 10 grams of garlic and mix 10 grams of fresh butter into it. Take this daily on an empty stomach in the early morning.
- Prepare a fine paste of cloves, mustard, nirgundi leaves, and eranda leaves. Apply this paste for about 20 minutes. It helps stimulate nerves, improve blood circulation, and relieve pain and inflammation.
- Put four drops of sesame oil in both nostrils daily in the morning on an empty stomach to give strength to the nerves.
- Add 5 to 10 drops of clove oil to a quarter cup of water. Take this three times a day to reduce facial paralysis.
Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies For Facial Palsy Or Bell's Palsy
The main herbal remedies are:
- Garlic
It is commonly used for conditions related to the heart and blood system. It is considered the best remedy to treat Bell’s palsy. Using garlic makes it possible to reduce the pain, swelling, and inflammation suffered by Bell’s palsy patients. This herbal remedy acts as a boosting agent for blood circulation and cranial nerve stimulation.
- Ginger
Ginger is a natural ingredient that can be used to reduce swelling and inflammation in patients suffering from Bell’s palsy.
- Nirgundi
It is an effective Ayurvedic herb to manage the imbalance between Vata and Kapha in the body. Massaging with this oil heals injured facial muscles and nerves and improves paralysis. It also eliminates toxins and prevents graying of hair. Its anti-inflammatory properties provide relief from inflammation and pain.
- Lavanga
Lavanga, commonly known as cloves, is the best herb to treat facial paralysis. The most important benefit is that it helps to strengthen nerves.
- Eranda
Eranda, also known as castor, is an effective Ayurvedic herbal formulation to treat different kinds of diseases. It is useful for balancing Vata and strengthening the nervous system. To reduce the inflammation, leaves of eranda are heated and directly applied to the affected parts.
- Sarshapa
Sarshapa or mustard is used in Ayurveda for external and oral use. It is hot and piercing in nature. To avoid further blockage and to improve local blood circulation caused by Bell's palsy, the massage of mustard oil is useful.
- Rasna
Rasna, commonly known as Lesser Galangal, is one of the most commonly used herbs for inflammatory conditions and bacterial diseases. It is a powerful Vata-balancing herb.
- Bala
Bala is an effective Ayurvedic herb to balance Vata.
- Guggulu
it is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is used as an ayurvedic herbal formulation to treat Bell’s palsy. It provides strength to nerves, bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments.
- Ashwagandha
It can treat paralysis and also reduce anxiety, stress, and depression. It helps by calming and rejuvenating the entire nervous system. It also helps to control muscle and joint pain and reduces stiffness.
- Licorice
it is very effective in stopping the progression of paralysis. It wipes out the symptoms related to Bell’s palsy.
The Ayurvedic herbs that are powerful for the treatment of Bell's palsy are Nirgundi, Garlic, Ginger, Clove, Licorice, Ashwagandha, Guggulu, Bala, Rasna, Mustard, etc.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned information is taken from various Ayurvedic resources. Always take the advice of an Ayurvedic doctor before starting herbs and herbal medicines for treatment.
