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Bell's Palsy is a name for a type of paralysis of the face. Many of us have seen people with this problem. When someone with this problem smiles, only half of their mouth moves. They can also lose the sense of taste and have eye and ear problems.

There is no research that shows that one type of care is better than another. Medical care can consist of surgery and medications. Medical doctors and some chiropractors also use electrical stimulation on the facial muscles. Some of the research that has been done on electrical stimulation, however, has not shown benefit from this treatment.

Chiropractors use adjustments to correct spinal subluxations that are thought to contribute to this condition. Clinical experience has been that early chiropractic care of patients with Bell's Palsy seems to yield faster results than the typical wait and see approach. The case studies that have been published showed that if chiropractic care began soon after the onset of Bell's Palsy, that symptoms are often relieved within a few to several weeks. The medical literature generally reports that these cases often last several weeks to several months under typical medical care with some cases being at risk for permanent problems.