Acupressure Points for Bell's Palsy

Video Transcript

"So you are suffering from Bell's Palsy and want to do a little bit of self help. My name is Mark Brinson, I'm a doctor of oriental medicine, physical medicine specialist and international seminar provider. Bell's Palsy has to do with the facial muscles being paralyzed and almost drooping on one side. Usually this happens in combination with a stroke so if you are having symptoms of facial paralysis you do want to make sure that you have that ruled out by a physician. Now if stroke has been ruled out there are a lot of things that can cause compression of these nerves that are kind of a more mysterious in nature, seeking out a good acupuncture position or neuromuscular therapist, someone that is certified can be a really big benefit in this case. Well I also want to give you a few self help techniques that you can use that involve acupressure but more than that a little bit of physical medicine to help as well. So all along the area where you are having the problems and back towards the ear, doing a little bit of skin rolling and lifting can be a really good technique to stimulate the nerves in the area, the facial nerves. Also using this to work your way around the back of the neck to one of the acupuncture points that I am going to show you and when I say acupuncture points, acupuncture and acupressure points are synonymous with one another so just behind this bony prominence underneath the ear there is a point in here called Ladder 21 that is very very good for that type of palsy as well. Now what is going to happen if you go to a massage therapist, a physical therapist or somebody that does acupuncture? You are probably going to get traction in conjunction with that where they are sort of pulling the neck in order to take compression off of the different cervical vertebra. Specifically if you can find someone that specializes in Atlas and Axis functions you are probably going to be doing the best job towards getting relief with this. My name is Dr. Mark Brinson wishing you balance in your life."