Question
I got facial paralysis from air conditioning, can you tell me what are the traditional Chinese medicine treatments for facial paralysis?
Answer
It is possible to treat facial paralysis with traditional Chinese medicine. The characteristics of Wind-Heat Obstruction Syndrome include a sudden onset, with symptoms such as facial distortion, incomplete closure of the eyes, headache, facial heat, or fever, aversion to wind, and restlessness with thirst. There may be pain behind the ear, red tongue with thin yellow coating, and floating rapid pulse. Treatment involves adjusting the Yin Chiao Powder. It mainly serves to expel wind and clear heat, and to unblock meridians and activate collaterals. The characteristics of Wind-Damp Phlegm Obstruction Syndrome include sudden facial distortion, numbness or twitching of the facial muscles, swelling of the face, or saliva dripping from the corner of the mouth, feeling of weight in the head as if wrapped in cloth, chest oppression, dry retching with phlegm, a bloated tongue with white greasy coating, and wiry slippery pulse. Treatment involves adjusting the Qian Zheng Powder and the Duan Tan Decoction. It mainly serves to expel wind and cool blood, and to unblock meridians and stop spasms.