Can CBD Help Treat Bell’s Palsy?

CBD for Bells Palsy
CBD for Bells Palsy

Bell’s Palsy affects about 40,000 Americans every year. It is a type of facial paralysis that can be caused by different conditions like strokes, tumors, Lyme disease, etc. However, the disease does not have a clear pathology and so it is also called idiopathic facial paralysis. The word idiopathic denotes that the condition occurs without any obvious cause. The condition affects the facial nerve, also called cranial nerve VII, which controls the facial muscles that are responsible for smiling, closing the eyes, and blinking eyes. The nerve also plays a role in the making of saliva and tear.

When the cranial nerve VII is inflamed, it swells and results in pressure in the bony canal, leading to the nerve to the face. This pressure can damage nerve cells as the supply of oxygen and blood to the nerve cells can be restricted by the pressure.

Symptoms Of Bell’s Palsy

There can be many symptoms of Bell’s palsy and they can range from mild to severe. Some of these symptoms are:

  • Drooping mouth
  • Dry mouth or drooling
  • Inability to close eyelids
  • Excessive production of tear
  • Abnormal sensations in the face
  • Variation in sense of taste

Although the effects of these symptoms are usually seen to be one-sided, they can affect both sides in some cases.

CBD for Bells Palsy

CBD has now been recognized as a natural remedy and many people are now wondering if it can be used in the treatment of Bell’s Palsy. The number of studies conducted to confirm the effectiveness of CBD in treating Bell’s palsy is limited. Nonetheless, many studies are proving the positive effects on the human body. These studies suggest that CBD could be beneficial in Bell’s Palsy treatment in many ways.

CBD interacts with many physiological systems in our body and one of these systems is the endocannabinoid system, which has a regulatory function on many different aspects of our wellbeing. CBD also influences receptors out of the ECS, which are vital in regulating the inflammatory response of our body, meaning that CBD has anti-inflammatory effects.

As Bell’s Palsy is caused due to inflammation in the facial nerve, using CBD might be beneficial. By helping decrease the swelling, CBD may help alleviate the symptoms of the disorder and speed up the recovery process. However, there are no researches to support this assumption. If you are thinking about using CBD to treat Bell’s Palsy, you should discuss it with your doctor before using it.