Traditional Chinese Medicine Methods for Treating Vocal Cord Paralysis

If vocal cord paralysis occurs, some traditional Chinese medicine treatments can certainly achieve certain results. Traditional Chinese medicine treatments include acupuncture, as well as the use of some prescriptions that can invigorate qi and promote blood circulation. Of course, some physical therapy methods are also relatively effective.

1. Systemic treatment

Give neurotrophic drugs, vasodilators and other drug treatments; if caused by acute inflammation, steroid corticosteroids can be given.

2. Local treatment

(1) Physical therapy: direct current ion introduction, infrared, ultraviolet, ultrashort wave, laser, etc.

(2) Vocal cord injection method: It is mainly used for patients with complete unilateral vocal cord paralysis and poor compensation of the healthy vocal cord. By injecting submucosally into the middle section of the affected vocal cord, the membranous part of the vocal cord is pushed inward and the glottis can be closed. A mixture of 50% Teflon and 50% glycerol is commonly used for injectable drugs.

(3) Patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis and breathing difficulties require tracheotomy. If conservative treatment fails after 6 to 9 months, arytenoid cartilage manipulation, arytenoid resection, or vocal cord transposition can be performed to enlarge the glottis and improve respiratory function.

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

(1) Body acupuncture: Commonly used acupoints include Fengfu, Yamen, Lianquan, Tiantu, Futu, Fengchi, etc. Select 3 to 4 acupoints each time, 1 to 2 times a day, and 10 times as a course of treatment.

(2) Injection at Renying acupoint: ① For unexplained vocal cord paralysis, use neostigmine 0.5 mg, vitamin B12 0.25 mg, and 0.1% lidocaine 2 ml, once every 2 days, 5 times as a course of treatment; ② For traumatic vocal cord paralysis, use dexamethasone 5 mg, vitamin B12 0.25 mg, and 0.1% lidocaine 2 ml, once every 5 days, 5 times as a course of treatment; ③ Avoid the large blood vessels in the neck during injection. Patients with a disease duration of more than 6 months should not be injected.

(3) Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this disease is mostly caused by poor blood circulation, blocked meridians, and failure of the vocal cords to open and close. Treatment should be aimed at invigorating qi and activating blood circulation, removing blood stasis and unblocking meridians. The prescription can be modified from Buyang Huanwu Decoction.