Acupuncture treatment of a pregnant patient with Bell's palsy in the third trimester: Case report
Lan D, Deng W, He K, Li Q, Peng X, Lao J, Li Z · Frontiers in Neurology · 2023 January 04
DOI 10.3389/fneur.2022.1088138
Objective
At present, the optimal treatment for Bell's palsy remains controversial and treatment is often delayed because the effects of these drugs on pregnant women and fetuses are still unclear. Herein, we report the clinical presentation of a 27-year-old woman with Bell's palsy who was 26 weeks pregnant at the time of diagnosis. After five courses of treatment, the patient made a complete recovery.
Conclusions
According to this case study, acupuncture can be used as soon as possible when the vital signs of pregnant women and fetuses are stable. The acupoints of the bladder meridian and stomach meridian on the face can ameliorate local blood circulation, and the combination with EX-LE10, EX-UE9, and KI3 can stimulate defensive Qi, which can warm the face, resist external pathogens, and improve the overall immunity. This case report demonstrated the feasibility, safety, and validity of acupuncture for treating Bell's palsy in pregnancy.
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