Can You Fully Recover from a Hemifacial Spasm? 

You may experience eye twitching when you’re stressed. But if the twitching on your face goes beyond the occasional eyelid tremor, it could be a hemifacial spasm. This condition is a neurological disorder in which the muscles on one side of your face spasm involuntarily.

A hemifacial spasm is quite rare and typically affects middle-aged Asian women. Don’t worry, as the condition is treatable during the early stages. Find what the symptoms and causes are and natural and clinical treatment options that can help manage the condition holistically.

What Are the Symptoms of a Hemifacial Spasm? 

Symptoms can develop in the following progression: 

• Twitching on the eyelid that comes and goes 
• Spasms force the eyelid to close 

• Spasms spread to the lower face, pulling the mouth to one side 
• Spasms affect all the muscles on the entire side of the face  

Hemifacial spasms usually happen on the left side of the face. Spasms on both sides of the face are rare. 

Possible Causes of Twitching on One Side of the Face

Hemifacial spasm is a result of facial nerve compression, usually by a nearby blood vessel bulging or shifting. This compression destroys the myelin sheath of the nerve and causes the over-firing of electrical impulses to the facial muscles.

Hypertension is found to be prevalent in 40% of hemifacial spasms. An overwhelming feeling of stress, fatigue, and anxiety may contribute to the compression. And if you enjoy coffee, beware, because stimulants like caffeine can worsen it. 

The twitching may also be a secondary symptom to these conditions: 

• Traumatic injury  
• Bell’s palsy 
• Brainstem lesions (multiple sclerosis, stroke) 

• Tumours in the blood vessel or salivary glands 
• Ear infections 
• Structural abnormalities in the skull 

This neurological disorder is also recognised in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Treatment and Prevention  

Hemifacial spasms don’t go away on their own. In some instances, they may lead to either facial paralysis, dizziness or hearing loss. 

Options for clinical interventions 

If you suspect you might have this condition, speak to your doctor immediately. 

If your diagnosis is confirmed, conventional treatments in Western medicine include: 

• Anticonvulsant oral drugs such as carbamazepine, gabapentin, benzodiazepines, and baclofen 
• Botox injections 
• Microvascular decompression surgery (if the above treatments aren’t possible or don’t work) 

While anticonvulsant drugs may stop the twitching temporarily, they can cause severe side effects. Botox injections may provide temporary relief, but you’ll require multiple treatments, which can be costly. Another option is surgery, which has an 80% to 88% average success rate but also comes with higher risks.

TCM treatment options 

TCM practitioners usually treat the condition by focusing on modalities that:  

• Dispel Wind and Phlegm to promote blood circulation 

• Strengthen the Spleen to prevent Phlegm and Stasis 
• Invigorate qi to maintain optimal circulation 

Herbal therapy

The first line of treatment for hemifacial spasm in TCM is herbal therapy. Qian Zheng San (牽正散) is commonly used for this condition.

The remedy’s primary ingredient, the giant Typhonium rhizome (bai fu zi, 白附子), enters the stomach meridian (yang ming, 阳明) and warms the anterior parts of the body such as the face and abdomen.

You can also brew calming herbs like rosebuds (mei gui hua, 玫瑰花) and longan (long yan rou, 龙眼肉) in a tea for added benefits. 

Acupuncture and acupressure 

The successful TCM treatment of hemifacial spasm includes the use of acupuncture and acupressure. Studies have shown that the following acupoints are effective: 

• He gu (LI4, 合谷)  

• Yu ji (LU10, 鱼际) 
• Quan liao (SI18, 颧髎) 
• Xia guan (ST7, 下关) 
• Yin tang (EXHN3, 印堂) 
• Bai hui (GV20, 百会) 

• Er shen men (HT7, 神门) 
• Feng chi (GB20, 风池) 
• Nei guan (PC6, 内关) 
• Tai chong (LR3, 太沖) 

For maintenance, you can perform acupressure on feng chi, nei guan and tai chong acupoints. Gua sha and tuina massage can also be used as supplementary therapies. 

To prevent the onset or recurrence of the condition, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, exercise, and stress management. Stop smoking and limit your alcohol intake. It’s also a good idea to avoid prolonged exposure to cold air or water and eating too many cold foods. 

Wondering if you might have hemifacial spasms? Save this article, monitor symptoms, and consult your doctor immediately.