Bells Palsy

Health Condition

Bell’s Palsy

  • Vitamin B12

    Vitamin B12 injections have been shown to be beneficial for people with Bell’s palsy.

    Dose:

    Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner
    Vitamin B12
    ×

    Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve degeneration,4 and both oral5 and injected6,7 vitamin B12 have been used to treat many types of nerve disorders.8 One older case report described successful treatment of chronic Bell’s palsy with vitamin B12 injections of 500 to 1,000 mcg given every one to two days.9 A more recent trial compared the effect of 500 mcg of injected vitamin B12 (in the form of methylcobalamin) given three times weekly for at least eight weeks—steroid medication, or both. Researchers found significantly faster recovery in the groups given B12 injections with or without steroids, compared to those given steroids alone.10 These findings agree with earlier reports on the effectiveness of methylcobalamin injections for Bell’s palsy.11,12 It is unlikely that oral vitamin B12 would be similarly effective. People seeking B12 injections should consult a physician.

What Are Star Ratings
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Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.
Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.
For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Holistic Options

Many reports claim that acupuncture speeds recovery from Bell’s palsy,13,14,15,16 but no controlled trials have been done to confirm this is neither a placebo effect nor the natural course of healing.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBT) is a procedure in which the patient breaths 100% oxygen at pressures up to three times greater than normal atmospheric pressure. A well controlled study of Bell’s palsy patients compared HBT plus a placebo tablet with fake oxygen therapy plus steroid medication.17 HBT produced significantly faster recovery (22 vs. 34 days) compared to the use of steroids.

Biofeedback techniques (using simple electronic devices to measure and report information about a person’s biological system) have been reported to help limit the deterioration of muscle function and speed recovery in Bell’s palsy.18,19 However, a controlled trial of patients with chronic facial paralysis (including some with Bell’s palsy) found that using a mirror as feedback was as effective as a mirror plus electrical biofeedback for improving facial symmetry and muscle function.20

References

1. Adour K, Wingerd J, Doty HE. Prevalence of concurrent diabetes mellitus and idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy). Diabetes 1975;24:449-51.

2. Yanagihara N, Hyodo M. Association of diabetes mellitus and hypertension with Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl 1988;137:5-7.

3. Brandenburg NA, Annegers JF. Incidence and risk factors for Bell's palsy in Laredo, Texas: 1974-1982. Neuroepidemiology 1993;12:313-25.

4. Savage DG, Lindenbaum J. Neurological complications of acquired cobalamin deficiency: clinical aspects. Baillieres Clin Haematol 1995;8:657-78 [review].

5. Yaqub BA, Siddique A, Sulimani R. Effects of methylcobalamin on diabetic neuropathy. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 1992;94:105-11.

6. Ide H, Fujiya S, Asanuma Y, et al. Clinical usefulness of intrathecal injection of methylcobalamin in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Clin Ther 1987;9:183-92.

7. Kuwabara S, Nakazawa R, Azuma N, et al. Intravenous methylcobalamin treatment for uremic and diabetic neuropathy in chronic hemodialysis patients. Intern Med 1999;38:472-5.

8. Yamane K, Usui T, Yamamoto T, et al. Clinical efficacy of IV plus oral mecobalamin in patients with peripheral neuropathy using vibration perception thresholds as an indicator of improvement. Curr Ther Res 1995;56:656-70 [review].

9. Mitra M, Nandi AK. Cyanocobalamin in chronic Bell's palsy. J Indian Med Assoc 1959;33:129-31.

10. Jalaludin MA. Methylcobalamin treatment of Bell's palsy. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1995;17:539-44.

11. Kobayashi H, Aoyagi M, Suzuki H, et al. The clinical effects of mecobalamin on peripheral facial palsy. Otolaryngology 1980;26:968-72.

12. Yagi N, Ishikawa Y, Fukazawa T. The effect of steroid and CH3 vitamin B12 on peripheral facial paralysis. Otologia Fukuoaka 1981;74:1613.

13. Zhang Y. Clinical experience in acupuncture treatment of facial paralysis. J Tradit Chin Med 1997;17:217-9.

14. He S, Zhang H, Liu R. Review on acupuncture treatment of peripheral facial paralysis during the past decade. J Tradit Chin Med 1995;15(1):63-7 [review].

15. Yuan H, Zhang J, Feng X, Lian Y. Observation on electromyogram changes in 93 cases of peripheral facial paralysis treated by point-through-point acupuncture. J Tradit Chin Med 1997;17:275-7.

16. Zang J. 80 cases of peripheral facial paralysis treated by acupuncture with vibrating shallow insertion. J Tradit Chin Med 1999;19:44-7.

17. Racic G, Denoble PJ, Sprem N, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen as a therapy of Bell's palsy. Undersea Hyperb Med 1997;24:35-8.

18. Biedermann HJ, Inglis J. The restoration of control in facial muscles affected by Bell's palsy. Int J Psychosom 1990;37:73-7.

19. Lobzin VS, Tsatskina ND. The adaptive biological control system with electromyographic feedback in the treatment of Bell's palsy. Zh Nevropatol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 1989;89(5):54-7 [in Russian].

20. Ross B, Nedzelski JM, McLean JA. Efficacy of feedback training in long-standing facial nerve paresis. Laryngoscope 1991;101:744-50.

Copyright © 2024 TraceGains, Inc. All rights reserved.

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The information presented by TraceGains is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2024.

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