Treatment For Facial Paralysis

Facial Paralysis has become a common problem these days. In this condition, the areas innervated by the Facial Nerve are affected or paralysed.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Before the onset of the symptoms, facial pain radiating from ear may be experienced by the individuals. The Facial Paralysis is characterized by:-

• Weakness of the face in any one side
• Loss of sensation of taste
• Salivation and the production of tears reduces
• Intolerance to certain sounds

Ayurveda explains Facial Paralysis as Arditha. The symptoms and signs are explained in detail by Ashtanga Hrdaya:-

• Involuntary movements of head
• Difficulty in speaking and movements of eyes
• Tremors
• Hoarseness of voice
• Deafness
• Loss of sensation of smell
• Memory loss
• Delusion
• Dripping of saliva through one corner of mouth
• Drooping of one eyelid

MAIN CAUSES OF FACIAL PARALYSIS

• Bell’s Palsy
• Trauma
• Tumours
• Infection
• Stroke

Bell’s Palsy:-

Commonly affects only one side of the face and rarely on both the sides. Bell ’s palsy is usually associated with Herpes simplex infection.

Trauma:-

Mainly temporal bone fractures cause Bell’s palsy.

Tumors:-

Development of tumors in the pathway of the Facial nerve often results in facial paralysis.

Stroke:-

Stroke is due to the poor blood circulation to the brain resulting in cell death. This also gives rise to facial paralysis.

Apart from the above mentioned common causes Diabetes Mellitus, Guillain-Barre Syndrome etc results in Facial Paralysis.

TREATMENTS:-

Ayurveda gives a clear and well-organised treatment protocol:-

• Nasyam
• Murdha Taila
• Tarpana
• Vamana
• Siravyadha

Let us look the treatments in detail:-

• Nasyam:- The errhine therapy. In this prescribed medicines are poured in the nostrils. It is mainly a part of Panchakarma.

• Murdha Taila:- It includes 4 treatments, that are mainly done on scalp.:-

• Siro Abhyanga:- Head massage using medicated oils. Indicated in Neurological Disorders, Ear and eye disorders etc

• Siro Dhara:-  Pouring of medicated liquids like oil, decoction, buttermilk, milk etc, continuously on forehead and scalp for a specific period of time. Mainly indicated in neurological disorders, hair and scalp problems, mental disorders etc.

• Siro Pichu:– A cotton pad or folded cloth is soaked in medicated oil and kept on the scalp for a specified time. Indicated in mainly in the disorders that affect brain, scalp and hair.

• Siro Vasthi:- It is the most important among all. A well like structure is made around the head and oil is poured inside it. This oil is allowed to stay on scalp for specified time. It can be either done before or after the purification therapy, according to the condition of the individual. Indicated in neurological disorders, insomnia, mental disorders, sinusitis, migraine etc.

• Tarpana:– In this procedure, a well like structure is made around the eyes and medicated oil is poured inside it. This oil is allowed to stay there for specified time.
• Siravyadha:- Blood-letting therapy.

Even though the main treatments are the above mentioned, the physician may change the treatment protocol according to the condition of the individual. The Ayurveda allows the physician to use his/her intelligence to change the treatment methods as every individual is unique.

REFERENCES:-

• Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine
• www.wikipedia.com
• Ashtanga Hridaya