Facial Drooping: A lopsided smile or a drooping eyelid/corner of the mouth.
Inability to Close One Eye: This can lead to excessive dryness, irritation, or tearing.
Drooling: Difficulty controlling saliva on the affected side.
Altered Senses: Loss of taste on the front two-thirds of the tongue and increased sensitivity to loud sounds (hyperacusis).
Pain: Discomfort or sharp pain behind the ear or around the jaw.
Causes and Risk Factors
While the exact cause is often unknown (idiopathic), it is widely believed to be triggered by a viral infection that causes the facial nerve to swell.
Linked Viruses: Herpes simplex (cold sores), varicella-zoster (chickenpox/shingles), Epstein-Barr (mononucleosis), and influenza.
Risk Factors: Pregnant women (especially in the third trimester), people with diabetes, and those with upper respiratory infections are at higher risk.
Recovery and Treatment
For most people, Bell’s palsy is temporary, with improvements typically starting within
Medication: Doctors often prescribe corticosteroids (like prednisone) to reduce nerve swelling, which is most effective if started within 72 hours of symptom onset. Antivirals may also be used in some cases.
Eye Care: Because you may be unable to blink, it is critical to use artificial tears and protective ointments, or even tape the eye shut at night, to prevent permanent corneal damage.
Physical Therapy: Massages and exercises can help prevent muscles from permanently shrinking or shortening.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience experience sudden facial drooping to rule out stroke.
Bowen Therapy as a treatment option for helping with Bell's Palsy.
Yes, Bowen Therapy may help alleviate symptoms of Bell's palsy by addressing muscle tension, improving nerve function around the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and supporting overall facial muscle relaxation. It is a gentle, non-invasive technique often used to aid recovery in both acute and chronic cases.
How Bowen Therapy May Help with Bell's Palsy
Bowen Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive manual therapy that uses rolling movements over muscles and fascia to stimulate the nervous system. For Bell’s palsy, it may assist by:
Decompressing Nerves: Therapists use specific protocols around the jaw (TMJ) and neck to relieve pressure on the facial nerve.
Improving Circulation: Bowen Therapy can help improve blood and lymph flow to paralyzed facial muscles, which is vital for nerve regeneration.
Systemic Relaxation: By shifting the body from a "fight or flight" state to a "rest and repair" state, it may reduce the systemic stress that can hinder recovery.
Addressing Secondary Issues: It can treat related tightness in the neck and shoulders caused by compensating for facial paralysis.
Individual results vary, as many cases of Bell’s palsy resolve spontaneously within six months. However, anecdotal evidence suggests Bowen Therapy may speed up this process. Some patients report significant movement return (up to 75-95%) after just a few sessions, even in cases where progress had previously stalled. Recovery is often more effective when treatment begins shortly after the onset of symptoms.
Case studies suggest that Bowen Therapy can restart recovery in stubborn cases of Bell's palsy, with some patients reporting significant or full improvement within a few sessions. While many users report positive outcomes, large-scale studies on Bowen Therapy for Bell's palsy are limited.
Bell's Palsy Success Stories
BELL'S PALSY - Woman, 54, 2 treatments. R. writes: "On Friday, 1st September 2000, I was diagnosed with Bells Palsy and was given a 5 day course of steroids and advised to see a neurologist. This would have probably taken several weeks with the NHS. I contacted Bowen practitioner on Monday 12th September. "The symptoms of the Bell's Palsy were that my left eye had gone right up in the socket and the right side of my mouth had dropped so that I had great difficulty in drinking and eating. During the course of the first treatment, during one of the short breaks [that are a part of Bowen treatment], I could still feel movements around and under my left eye as though he were still working on it. When the treatment was finished, I looked in the mirror and was amazed to see that my eyes were symmetrical and back to normal. A week later I had a second treatment and my mouth showed a little improvement on that occasion. I had a third appointment provisionally booked for a week later but my face was so improved that I did not need it. "I also had a private appointment with a neurologist on the 27th of September, by which time my face was completely recovered."
Bowen Therapy was suggested for Bell's palsy condition. I was obviously sceptical but went ahead as there was not much to loose given the impact of the condition on my face. Here is the most interesting aspect I experienced during my sessions - the 1 hour sessions were absolutely inconsequential, as if nothing was happening. Unlike the experience in other therapies (like physiology, acupuncture, acupressure, etc,) where you can actually feel the therapist working on you, Bowen Therapy at best put me to sleep. I actually wondered whether it was worth it.
The after-effects of the sessions proved to be otherwise. The expected physical symptoms (as explained by the therapist) were manifested within the next ~2 days. In just over 8 weeks, the effects of Bells palsy on my face have markedly reduced. I would say it is about 70-80% recovery. I don't know how this therapy works on the body, but it has worked for me.
It is recommended to consult with a qualified Bowen Therapist to create a personalized plan.
