Clinical observation on therapeutic effect of different acupuncture therapies on acute peripheral facial paralysis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the better therapeutic method for acute peripheral facial paralysis. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-seven cases of acute peripheral facial paralysis were randomly divided into an observation group (n=125) and a control group (n=72). The observation group was treated by injection at acupoint combined with warming needle therapy at Yifeng (TE 17), Wangu (GB 12), Xiaguan (ST 7), Qianzheng (EX), and Taiyang (EX-HN 5). The control group was treated with electroacupuncture at Yifeng (TE 17), Yangbai (GB 14), Xiaguan (ST 7), etc. Their therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After three therapeutic courses, the cured rate and the total effective rate in the observation group were 76.0%, 100.0%, and 48.6%, 86.1% in the control group, respectively, with significant defferences between the two groups (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Injection at acupoint combined with warming needle therapy could shorten the therapeutic cycle, improve the effectiveness, and decrease sequela in acute peripheral facial paralysis.