This article from Acupuncture Today presents an intriguing case where acupuncture successfully treated Bell's palsy in a 60-year-old woman who had recently undergone Botox injections around her eyes for cosmetic purposes. The case was unusual because the muscle-relaxing effects of Botox conflicted with acupuncture's goal of stimulating nerve and muscle recovery. Botox, by temporarily paralyzing muscles like the orbicularis oculi, complicated the assessment of nerve dysfunction caused by Bell's palsy. The key challenge was that Botox suppresses nerve activity, while acupuncture aims to restore it.
Despite these challenges, the acupuncturist developed a treatment plan that strategically used local and distal acupuncture points, scalp acupuncture, and low-frequency electroacupuncture. The approach focused on balancing facial energy, stimulating nerve repair, and improving blood flow without directly counteracting the Botox. Notably, points near but not directly on Botox-treated areas were chosen. Over eight weeks of twice-weekly treatments, the patient experienced significant recovery, regaining over 80% of her facial function as the Botox effects wore off. The case highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between Botox and acupuncture and demonstrates that acupuncture can be a valuable holistic therapy for Bell’s palsy even with complicating factors.