The Clinical Study Of Fire-Needle Therapy In The Treatment Of Facial Paralysis Caused By Wind-Cold Invasion

Bell's palsy or idiopathic facial palsy,often called facial paralysis, is the most common disorder affecting the facial nerves and results in weakness or paralysis on one side of the face.The condition may cause considerable emotional distress because of its characteristic drooping appearance around the eye and mouth thus adversely effecting self-esteem and life experience. The manifestation of the condition is due to inflammation of the facial nerve thus resulting in combined vascular,infectious and immunological reaction.In Traditional Chinese Medicine,it is believed that facial paralysis is caused when Wind and Cold invade the meridians,muscles and tendons of the face.The normal flow of Qi and Blood is disrupted in the face resulting in malnourishment of the facial muscles and tendons.'Qi' refers to the vital substances comprising the human body and the physiological functions of viscera and bowels,channels and collaterals.The goal of treatment is to expel the Wind-Cold factor from the meridians,thus improving the circulation of Qi and Blood to nourish the muscles,restoring nerve and muscle function. Fire-needle therapy is a recognized heat remedy in decreasing the Wind-Cold factor.Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of fire-needle combined with electroacupuncture in the treatment of facial paralysis caused by Wind-Cold invasion.Method:A total of 60 patients were randomly divided into treatment and control groups.The former is treated with fire-needle and electroacupuncture combined therapy,and the latter is treated with electroacupuncture alone.The groups underwent 2 courses of treatment.At the end of each course of treatment,the patients' facial nerve functions were assessed.Results:1.All patients' facial nerve functions significantly improved after treatment(p<0.05).Applying the H-B Facial Grading System,the treatment group had 16 patients clinically recovered,11 patients with very effective results,2 patients with effective results,1 patient with ineffective results; the control group had 12 patients clinically recovered,8 patients with very effective results,6 patients with effective results,4 patient with ineffective results.2.The treatment group had significantly better improvements in their facial nerve functions than that of the control group(p<0.05).3.Over half of the treatment group patients were clinically recovered after treatment,but the control group composed of patients having very effective and effective results.After statistical analysis,the difference in group composition in the two groups was significant(p<0.05).4.After one course of treatment,the treatment group showed significant improvements in the facial nerve function;but,the control group showed improvement in the end of second course of treatment.The difference in curative effect in the course of treatment for the two groups was significant (p<0.05).Conclusions:Fire-needle and electroacupuncture combined therapy is more effective than sole electroacupuncture therapy in treating facial paralysis caused by Wind-Cold invasion.