Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is sometimes used to support or treat Bell's Palsy, but this practice is primarily based on tradition and historical use rather than robust scientific validation. Bell's Palsy is an acute, idiopathic facial nerve paralysis, and the rationale for using B vitamins—particularly B6, B12, and B1—stems from their general role in nerve health and regeneration. In several regions, particularly in Asia, combinations of B vitamins have been administered alongside corticosteroids for Bell's Palsy, but the scientific evidence for this approach is weak.

A few small clinical studies and case series from the mid-to-late 20th century suggested possible benefits of B vitamins in nerve recovery, but these studies typically involved combinations of B vitamins, not B6 alone, and often lacked rigorous controls. More recent guidelines and systematic reviews (such as those from the American Academy of Neurology) do not recommend vitamin B6 (or other B vitamins) as standard therapy, citing insufficient evidence. Most improvement in Bell’s Palsy is attributed to corticosteroids and, in some cases, antiviral agents.

Therefore, while vitamin B6 is still used by some practitioners, especially in traditional or complementary medicine settings, its use is not supported by high-quality scientific evidence, and major neurological associations do not endorse it for Bell’s Palsy treatment.

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