Acupuncture in Greeley | How Acupuncture Supports Recovery from Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s palsy can be a frightening and disorienting experience. One moment, everything feels normal—and the next, half your face may feel numb, immobile, or drooping. While conventional medicine often recommends corticosteroids and antiviral medications, acupuncture offers a gentle, non-invasive path to healing that many patients find surprisingly effective.
What Is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy is a form of temporary facial paralysis caused by inflammation or compression of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). It often appears suddenly and may be linked to viral infections such as herpes simplex. Common symptoms include:
Drooping on one side of the face
Inability to close one eye
Loss of taste on the front of the tongue
Facial pain or twitching
Most people recover within weeks to months, but early intervention can significantly improve outcomes.
How Acupuncture Helps
Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body to restore balance, reduce inflammation, and promote nerve regeneration. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Bell’s palsy is often viewed as a “Wind invasion” disrupting the flow of Qi and Blood in the facial meridians.
Here’s how acupuncture supports recovery:
Reduces Inflammation: Acupuncture downregulates inflammatory cytokines and promotes anti-inflammatory pathways.
Stimulates Facial Muscles: Targeted points like ST 4, ST 7, LI 4, and GB 14 help activate nerve function and muscle coordination.
Improves Circulation: Enhanced blood flow nourishes damaged tissues and supports healing.
Boosts Neurotransmission: Acupuncture may help regulate neurotransmitters like dopamine, which are essential for motor control.
What to Expect During Treatment
Each acupuncture session is tailored to your unique presentation, but here’s a closer look at two key techniques used in Bell’s palsy treatment:
Facial Acupuncture: Precision for Muscle and Nerve Recovery
Facial acupuncture targets motor points and affected muscles to stimulate nerve function and restore symmetry. It’s not just about placing needles—it’s about activating the right areas with precision and care.
What it involves:
Motor Point Needling: Specific spots where nerves enter muscles—like ST 4 (Dicang), ST 6 (Jiache), and SI 18 (Quanliao)—are stimulated to re-engage muscle tone and coordination.
Submuscular Needling: Deeper needling may be used to release tension in muscles like the masseter and temporalis, which can become imbalanced during facial paralysis.
Electroacupuncture: Gentle electrical stimulation between facial points enhances nerve signaling and speeds up recovery. Studies show electroacupuncture has a 92% total effective rate for Bell’s palsy.
This technique is both therapeutic and restorative—helping patients regain facial expression, symmetry, and confidence.
Scalp Acupuncture: Stimulating the Brain’s Healing Centers
Scalp acupuncture is a modern technique rooted in neuroanatomy. It targets zones on the scalp that correspond to brain regions responsible for motor and sensory function.
Why it works:
Motor Area Stimulation: Needles are placed along the motor line of the scalp, which influences voluntary movement in the face.
Sensory Area Support: If there’s numbness or tingling, the sensory line may be used to restore sensation.
Integrated Healing: Scalp acupuncture complements facial needling by working from the “top down”—engaging the brain’s control centers to support peripheral recovery.
Patients often report a sense of clarity and relaxation during scalp acupuncture, and it’s a powerful tool for neurological conditions like Bell’s palsy, stroke, and trigeminal neuralgia.
Real Results from Our Greeley Clinic
We recently treated a patient experiencing Bell’s palsy, and their recovery was nothing short of remarkable. Here’s what they had to say:
“Holland does a super job & he truly cares about you. I ended up with Bell's Palsy. He was able to treat me the very next day. After 3 sessions in 12 days, I was completely back to normal. He's your guy for any acupuncture needs. Thank you!!!”-James
This kind of rapid improvement isn’t guaranteed for everyone, but it highlights how timely, personalized acupuncture can make a real difference.
Why Choose Acupuncture in Greeley?
At Pins & Needles Acupuncture in Greeley, we specialize in holistic, patient-centered care. Whether you're dealing with Bell’s palsy, chronic pain, or stress-related conditions, our team is here to support your healing journey with compassion and expertise.
