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RI& KOREAN MEDICAL CLINIC

Facial Nerve Palsy

Facial nerve palsy treatment tailored to your body — RI&

1:1 personalized care that helps restore facial nerve function, based on precise testing and personalized treatment

Facial nerve palsy arises from a combination of causes — nerve inflammation, impaired blood flow, muscle atrophy, and autonomic imbalance. The longer recovery is delayed, the more likely it is to lead to secondary sequelae such as asymmetry of the facial muscles, facial rigidity, and abnormal tear secretion — so early treatment is important.

A woman whose smile is uneven because one corner of her mouth droops slightly

Facial nerve palsy: why does it occur?

Facial nerve palsy is easily dismissed as a temporary paralysis, but in reality it often results from a combination of various causes —
viral inflammation, peripheral nerve compression, local blood-flow impairment, muscle imbalance, and disruption of the autonomic nervous system.
  1. 3D illustration of magnified red cells

    Weakened immunity

    Latent viruses are reactivated by stress, overwork, and lack of sleep

  2. A person clutching their head, with inflammation in the brain shown in red

    Viral infection & inflammatory response

    Facial nerve function declines due to compression within the skull's bony canal

  3. Cross-section of a blood vessel with red blood cells and fatty deposits blocking the flow

    Impaired blood & lymph circulation

    Nerve recovery is delayed by insufficient oxygen and nutrient supply

  4. Anatomical illustration showing the muscles of the face and neck

    Soft-tissue stiffening

    If paralysis persists, asymmetry becomes fixed and secondary facial pain develops

  5. Illustration of a brain radiating light

    Autonomic imbalance

    Overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system worsens the environment for nerve regeneration and delays recovery

Main conditions causing facial nerve palsy

  • Bell's palsy

  • Ramsay Hunt syndrome

  • Traumatic facial nerve palsy

  • Facial nerve palsy caused by chronic otitis media or sinusitis

  • Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Sequelae of facial nerve palsy

  • Synkinesis
    (involuntary associated movements)

  • Facial muscle spasm (twitching)

  • Facial muscle contracture

  • Crocodile tears syndrome

  • Facial asymmetry

Facial nerve palsy self-check

If you have any of the symptoms below, early-stage facial nerve palsy may be a possibility.
  1. The muscles on one side of the face suddenly don't move well.
  2. When smiling, the corner of the mouth rises or droops on only one side.
  3. The eye doesn't close properly, or tears flow excessively.
  4. Taste is reduced or absent over the front two-thirds of the tongue.
  5. There is stiffness or pain behind the ear (around the mastoid process).
  6. Food or liquid leaks from the mouth when speaking or eating.
  7. Sounds seem unusually loud, or there is ringing in the ear.
  8. Blisters or a rash have appeared around the ear or in the ear canal.

Key features of RI&'s facial nerve palsy treatment

Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic supports recovery through integrated
Korean medicine treatment that addresses both nerve recovery and muscle-function recovery, while working to reduce lasting after-effects.
A Korean medicine doctor examining a patient lying down

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1:1 personalized treatment

By precisely analyzing the degree of paralysis, muscle function, and recovery progress, we combine acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, Chuna, and herbal medicine in a tailored treatment aimed at restoring nerve function and preventing sequelae.

RSA autonomic nervous system test device with a finger sensor

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Autonomic balance assessment (RSA)

Since an overactive sympathetic nervous system can be a major factor in delayed facial nerve recovery, we use the RSA test to precisely analyze autonomic balance and provide tailored treatment aimed at stabilizing the nervous system and supporting recovery.

Pulse wave test report screen (pulse wave, vascular elasticity and blood pressure indices)

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Pulse-wave imaging test

Since peripheral blood flow is related to nerve recovery, we use pulse-wave imaging to evaluate cardiac output and peripheral circulation, working to improve the blood supply needed for nerve recovery.

Two clear urine test containers

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Urinalysis

By analyzing 10 items including glucose, protein, occult blood, and white blood cells, we detect early signs of systemic health issues linked to facial nerve palsy, such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Two facial analysis devices

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Precise facial & body analysis

Using a facial analysis device, we closely assess facial asymmetry, cervical spine alignment, and body-axis imbalances to identify sequelae early and help recovery by looking into the causes.

Who is RI& customized treatment for?

Facial nerve palsy
treatment is recommended for:

  • Those whose daily life is disrupted by sudden facial paralysis or a twisted mouth
  • Those who want to start recovery care soon after a diagnosis of Bell's palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome
  • Those whose recovery is slow even after steroid treatment
  • Those who cannot close the eye well, or who also have tear or taste abnormalities
  • Those troubled by sequelae such as synkinesis, facial muscle contracture, or facial spasm
  • Those who also experience pain around the ear, tinnitus, or hyperacusis
  • Those whose facial paralysis developed after overwork, stress, or weakened immunity
  • Those with recurrent facial nerve palsy who need treatment that looks into the causes

Research on acupuncture for facial palsy sequelae

Acupuncture for the sequelae of Bell's palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Hyo-Jung Kwon, Jun-Yong Choi, Myeong Soo Lee, Yong-Suk Kim, Byung-Cheul Shin, Jong-In Kim.
Trials. 2015;16:246.

A randomized controlled trial in 39 patients with sequelae of Bell's palsy (26 acupuncture, 13 waiting list). After 8 weeks, the acupuncture group improved more than the waiting-list group on the Facial Disability Index (FDI) social/well-being score. This was a small study without a sham-acupuncture control.

Facial nerve palsy treatment program

  1. A dish of needles and pharmacopuncture vials on a tray

    Acupuncture & pharmacopuncture

    Aims to ease inflammation around the facial nerve and improve peripheral blood flow, supporting nerve recovery.

  2. Rolled towels and a warm compress

    SSP physiotherapy

    Applies low-frequency electrical stimulation to facial acupoints to regulate nerve excitability, helping restore facial muscle function and relieve pain.

  3. Dried wild ginseng and amber ampoules on a wooden tray

    Wild ginseng pharmacopuncture

    Injects saponin components directly into acupoints with the aim of supporting nerve recovery and immune function.

  4. Three herbal medicine pouches printed with the clinic logo

    Nerve-recovery herbal medicine

    A constitution-based prescription that aims to help control inflammation, improve blood flow, and support nerve recovery, while working to reduce sequelae.

prescribed to suit your constitution and symptoms

Herbal prescription and preparation

Individual prescriptions are prepared with pharmaceutical-grade herbal ingredients manufactured under the MFDS herbal Good Manufacturing Practice (hGMP) standard.
Each prescription is decocted separately.

  1. Pharmaceutical-grade herbs

  2. Prescribed by constitution and symptoms

  3. Decocted per prescription

  4. Progress checks while you take it

At Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic,
every herbal prescription is prepared with meticulous care,
using pharmaceutical-grade medicinal herbs.

A thorough quality-control system from raw herbs to final preparation
Trustworthy herbal medicine prepared with well-maintained facilities and strict process management.

An open notebook, a pen and tea on a wooden desk

Ri& Case

Facial Palsy Director's Column

Clinical columns written by our head director.

Read the column Facial Palsy Director's Column

Photos of people on this page are staged images, not actual patients.

Balanced health and beauty at Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic

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