Opening Energy

Opening Energy

Can a ceiling fan cause Bell’s palsy?

That might seem like an odd question, but under certain circumstances a ceiling fan just might play a role in triggering a bout of Bell’s palsy, an unusual condition that weakens and sometimes paralyzes facial muscles.

Once this condition is diagnosed, the proper treatment during the following 72 hours might make an enormous difference in recovery success.

Doctors at odds

I recently became aware of Bell’s palsy (BP) when two acquaintances were diagnosed with this condition within 10 days of one another. This is a very unusual coincidence given the relative rarity of BP: only one in 5,000 is affected.

Bell’s palsy is an inflammatory disorder of the seventh cranial nerve, which runs through the bones of the skull. The sudden paralysis of BP usually occurs when the immune system is compromised. Diabetics and others with chronic diseases are at highest risk of developing BP. And as with so many health problems, doctors are at odds over the use of conventional or alternative treatments.

In the HSI Healthier Talk community forums, an HSI member named Howard shares this story: “About a year ago, my friend’s wife woke up with the left side of her face drooping badly. They made an appt. with their doc and saw him immediately. He said his call was Bell’s palsy, but he wanted her to see a Neurologist. She did. The Neurologist confirmed the diagnosis and prescribed powerful nerve medicines that she was to take for life. When she and her husband said they did not want to take this route, the doc said, ‘It’s your life, but it’ll be ruined forever,’ and walked out.

“They went home and called their Chiropractor and he told her to come in immediately. After three treatments, the problem was gone, and is still gone to this day. How’s that for whacko treatments?”

Unblocking the pathway

In addition to chiropractic therapy, I’d heard that acupuncture was also sometimes quite effective in treating BP – especially if treatment begins shortly after the onset. I checked in with an acupuncturist I know named Stacey Hachenberg, and she confirmed this, adding that treatment within 24 hours of onset is ideal, but acupuncture can still be effective if not used right away. In her practice, Stacey has helped several patients overcome facial paralysis. She recommends two or three sessions per week for three weeks, then tapering off the frequency of sessions as needed.

With her experience in this area I thought she might be able to shed some light on the claim that a ceiling fan can trigger BP. So myth or fact? Stacey says it’s probably a fact, noting that a steady draft of cool air throughout the night could trigger BP paralysis in a vulnerable subject. The problem: wind trapped in a meridian. If you happen to be an acupuncturist, that’s going to mean a great deal more than it does to a layman like me. When I asked if that would be another way of describing inflammation, she agreed that inflammation might be at the root of energy blockage along the meridian (energy pathway) that affects the cranial nerve.

It turns out that acupuncture treatment for Bell’s palsy is actually well documented. In a 1999 issue of Medical Acupuncture, David P. Sniwzek, D.C., M.D., presented a case study of a 56-year-old woman who had suffered facial pain and paralysis for three months. Dr. Sniwzek noted that after 15 acupuncture treatments over two months she was able to close her eye and had regained most of her motor strength and normal motion.

Dr. Sniwzek also cites a 1995 study in which more than 680 patients were given acupuncture within three days of onset of facial nerve paralysis. All patients showed marked improvement and in many cases BP symptoms were completely eliminated.

You can find more information about Bell’s palsy at the Bell’s Palsy Information Site (bellspalsy.ws). And in the e-Alert “Stuck on You” (4/7/04) you’ll find tips on how to locate a reliable acupuncturist. http://www.hsionline.com/ealerts/ea200404/ea20040407.html