What exactly is Bell’s Palsy?

Bell’s palsy, also known as acute peripheral facial palsy, can occur at any age, and the exact cause is unknown. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe, depending on the person. They may include muscle twitching, weakness, or total loss of the ability to move one or, in rare cases, both sides of the face. Other symptoms include drooping of the eyebrow, a decrease in taste, and pain around the ear. Bell’s palsy can also cause an increase in sensitivity to sound known as hyperacusis. Symptoms usually begin to improve within a few weeks, with complete recovery in about six months. A small number of people continue to have some Bell’s palsy symptoms for life. Very rarely, Bell’s palsy can occur more than once. The nerve that controls facial muscles passes through a narrow corridor of bone on its way to the face. In Bell’s palsy, that nerve becomes inflamed and swollen — usually related to a viral infection. Besides facial muscles, the nerve affects tears, saliva, taste, and a small bone in the middle of the ear.

The cause of Bell’s palsy is uncertain, and it can occur at any age. Some of the risk factors include diabetes, a recent upper respiratory tract infection, and pregnancy. Although the exact reason Bell’s palsy occurs isn’t clear, it’s often related to having a viral infection. Viruses that have been linked to Bell’s palsy include viruses that cause: Cold sores and genital herpes (herpes simplex), Chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster), Infectious mononucleosis (Epstein- Barr), Cytomegalovirus infections, Respiratory illnesses (adenovirus), German measles (rubella), Mumps (mumps virus), Flu (influenza B), & Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (coxsackievirus).

Corticosteroids, a steroid hormone medication, have been found to improve outcomes, while antiviral medications may be of a small additional benefit. The eye should be protected from drying up with the use of eye drops or an eyepatch.

What is CBD & how can it help?

CBD comes from the cannabis or hemp plant; this plant being most commonly known for producing THC. The difference is that with how CBD is extracted from the plant, with that it doesn’t have the part of the plant that can cause a psychoactive effect like THC. CBD as a compound is used for medicinal purposes, generally used for insomnia, pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, stress, etc. It is legal in most states in the USA (most states require it to be used medicinally), which helps make sure it’s accessible to most people.

CBD can help this condition in a few ways. Although this is not a cure, it can help with a few symptoms that can occur due to this condition. There have been many studies done to demonstrate how CBD can help with numerous ailments, though testing has not been conducted specifically for Bell’s Palsy. Regardless, we will still examine how it can potentially alleviate your symptoms and help with recovery.

Let’s start with it being a neuroprotective antioxidant: CBD has neuroprotective antioxidant properties to reduce free radical damage such as stress and other toxins affecting nerve cell damage. Another thing that CBD is well known for is being an anti-inflammatory: When the facial nerve is compressed and swollen, the symptoms of Bell’s palsy may develop. With CBD having anti-inflammatory properties, it can also help to treat degenerative conditions. People suffering from Bell’s palsy often also suffer from headaches. Coming back to how CBD is used as an anti-inflammatory, CBD for Bell’s treatment has shown optimistic results for different types of headaches. It may not eliminate headaches completely, but there is a considerable reduction in the severity of the headache. CBD is also known for being helpful at reducing pain in the body. People suffering from Bell’s palsy also complain about facial and jaw pain related to the disease. So, CBD can be very useful in reducing that pain through a tincture or a topical product.

In many cases, Bell’s palsy does not need treatment as the symptoms clear up right away. But in a study done on 83 adults, 23 different medications were used to treat the symptoms. Out of all the medications, CBD has showed the most promise and brought the most relief.

Regardless of how you would like to go about your treatment, please consult a health care or CBD specialist to make sure that the treatment you choose is right for you.

As we get older and our bodies continue to change, we are more prone to experiencing pain, a lack of energy, or even feeling more apathetic. There are ways to treat it, medications, CBD, etc. But in today’s article, we will talk about another alternative treatment through Kratom. What it is exactly, and how it can help you.

What is Kratom?

Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, grown in Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves have been known to be chewed, and dry kratom can be swallowed or brewed. When in a liquid form, it is often marketed as a treatment for muscle pain, or to suppress appetite and stop cramps and diarrhea. Usually, people drink kratom as tea or chew its leaves. Kratom can also be found in resins, extracts, tinctures, and even gummies. Kratom’s two main active compounds are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which bind to the body’s opioid receptors and create a morphine-like effect. Specifically, because kratom interacts with the brain’s opioid receptors, people use it to relieve pain or overcome opioid addiction. While now, most medical communities now try to withdraw from opioid use for pain, there are still so many patients who still rely on them. But for those who want to get off of them, those people that have been looking for alternatives, like kratom, to relieve their pain.

How does Kratom affect the body?

The early effects are known to be more stimulating in nature but quickly become more relaxed and sedating. As the kratom kicks in, pain symptoms also start to diminish. The effects are usually at their best around the 2-hours into use and can work for another 2 or 3 hours. It can make you feel very sociable and talkative without being overstimulated or energetic. Some patients use this product for sleep, on top of pain symptoms. It can help the body feel more relaxed and less anxious, allowing them to sleep a lot more easily. At low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant, making users feel more energetic. At higher doses, it decreases pain and may bring on a euphoria. At very high doses, it acts as a sedative, causing users to be more quiet and perhaps sleepy. Researchers have concluded that kratom could be used as an opioid substitute for those addicted to opioids. Though, the worst side effects of the study were temporary blood pressure and pulse rate increases and tongue numbness; researchers speculate there were no serious adverse effects because they dosed less than 30 milligrams in trial runs.

What are some of the side effects?

Some of the side effects can include: Sedation, Nausea, Sweating, Dry mouth, Increased urination, Loss of appetite, Itching, Constipation, Dizziness, Confusion, and can become addictive after many uses. We recommend taking small doses while using them to ensure that the side effects become much less likely to happen. So, what can be some additional side effects to watch out for? With kratom specifically, the is a phenomenon called the “kratom wobble.” This can include a combination of dizziness, a loss of coordination, blurred vision, and nausea/vomiting. These side effects are unpleasant, but act as a significant safety mechanism when using kratom. The effects of the kratom wobble prevent people from ever reaching lethal doses. Once these effects start to appear, it’s very unlikely for you to want to take any more. The kratom wobble is, by far, the most common side effect of taking too much kratom.

What is the controversy of Kratom?

There is a controversy with kratom as a product, being that they can potentially be addictive. While it activates the opioid receptors, it isn’t as dangerous or addictive as its pharmaceutical counterparts (making it a more desirable option for patients). It’s not as easy to overdose on kratom, but is still possible, and different from other prescription drugs. There have been a few reported deaths from using kratom, but luckily, this is extremely rare and nearly always involves mixing other drugs or alcohol. It’s not safe to mix kratom with alcohol or other illicit or prescription drugs, especially other opiates.

To avoid addictiveness, we highly recommend speaking with a specialist or only using this product in smaller doses/short term use.
We recommend talking to a health care professional or a specialist before trying any new treatment plans, to make sure you have a safe experience.
We also recommend this website to go into additional details on kratom (the different types, what to do if you notice addiction, and more!)

https://tripsitter.com/kratom/