Our ancestors, who loved ondol, were reluctant to sleep in a very cold place, even in summer. This is because it was believed that sleeping in a cold place would receive the so-called ‘wind’, in which the cold energy permeated the body and made you feel sick. A typical example is ‘Guinwasa’, in which the eyes and mouth rotate to one side. If we translate it into words today, it is ‘facial nerve palsy’.
Facial nerve palsy is more common now than in the past. This is because stress, which is regarded as the fate of modern people, adversely affects the immune system and increases vulnerability to viral infections, leading to various diseases. And, according to statistics, unexpectedly, facial nerve paralysis occurs as often in midsummer as in winter when the cold wind blows. According to the data of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients with idiopathic facial nerve palsy that occurred between 2002 and 2018 was 64,500 and 60,000, respectively, in January and February, and there was no significant difference at 58,000 in July and August, respectively. It is presumed that this is because the immunity is lowered due to the decrease in physical strength and temperature difference between indoor and outdoor in summer.
Facial nerve palsy paralyzes the muscles on one side of the face, resulting in a distorted facial shape. As a result, food flows out of the mouth when eating, or when you wash your face, soapy water enters your eyes due to difficulty in closing your eyes, making daily life difficult.
In general, facial nerve palsy is divided into two major categories, central facial palsy and peripheral facial palsy. Central facial palsy is caused by a brain disease, whereas peripheral facial palsy is caused by a problem in the facial nerve itself.
A precise diagnosis is required to distinguish the two, but there are differences in the detailed symptoms, so knowing this will help distinguish the disease. The simplest way is to look at the wrinkles on your forehead. In the case of central facial paralysis, it is possible to wrinkle the forehead, but in peripheral facial palsy, in which the facial nerve is damaged, it is difficult to wrinkle the forehead because the nerve is not transmitted to the forehead.
If the treatment time for facial nerve palsy is missed, it is important to receive treatment early because side effects such as joint movement, convulsions, and loss of taste may remain when the muscles on the unintended side move together when making a facial expression. In particular, the aftereffects of facial nerve palsy can cause great inconvenience not only in daily life but also in interpersonal relationships, as the part where the symptoms appear is the face, so it is necessary to receive treatment in a timely manner.
In oriental medicine, an integrated treatment including facial chuna therapy (SJS non-resistance therapy), acupuncture and herbal acupuncture treatment, and herbal medicine prescription is implemented for the treatment of facial nerve palsy. For example, in the case of Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital, it gently pushes and pulls crooked facial muscles with the independently developed facial chuna therapy and corrects them. In particular, acupuncture, which is acupuncture with herbal ingredients added to it, improves immunity and promotes blood circulation. Here, herbal medicines such as ‘Wasahaepyotang’ may be prescribed to prevent complications and complications.
In fact, the effectiveness of herbal prescriptions for facial nerve palsy has been scientifically proven through research papers. According to a research paper published in the SCI (E)-level international academic journal ‘Journal of Inflammation Research’ by Jaseng Oriental Hospital Spine and Joint Research Institute, Taekran extract, a major herbal medicine prescribed at the Facial Nerve Paralysis Clinic at Jaseng Oriental Hospital, activates nerve regeneration factors. It has been shown to alleviate nerve damage.
In addition to treatment, it is also necessary to continuously manage the patient on his/her own. Facial exercises for recovery include whistling and using a straw. When doing facial exercise, it is better to practice to create the desired expression using your hands rather than forcing your facial muscles.
Patients with facial nerve palsy often react sensitively to the gazes and words of people around them. However, as the cause of facial nerve palsy is stress, it is important to manage it well. Even if the sequelae remain, if you take the time and continue to treat them, you can almost be cured.
