Question
Why do facial paralysis and tongue numbness occur?
Answer
Patients with facial paralysis may sometimes experience tongue numbness, which is due to facial neuritis caused by the paralysis, akin to a ‘cold’ in the facial nerve. This condition leads to weakness in the facial muscles, and since there is a nerve in the facial nerve responsible for controlling the tongue, it may affect the taste buds. In treating facial paralysis, a combination of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine is typically used, and it’s recommended to avoid cold exposure in recent times.