title: [Effect of shallow needling combined with acupoint application on the acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To search for an effective therapy for the acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty cases of facial paralysis patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with routine medication, and the observation group was treated with shallow needling combined with acupoint application using self-made "acupoint application formula for facial paralysis" on the basis of the routine medication. The acupoints of Yifeng (TE 17), Wangu (GB 12), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Qianzheng (EX-HN 17), Cuanzhu (BL 2) in affected side and Hegu (LI 4) in healthy side were selected as main acupoints for shallow needling, and Qianzheng (EX-HN 17), Dicang (ST 4), Yangbai (GB 14) and Wangu (GB 12), or Jiache (ST 6), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Quanliao (SI 18) and Yifeng (TE 17) were selected for acupoint application. The cure rate and the course of cured patients in both groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cure rate of 88.3% (53/60) in observation group was superior to that of 66.7% (40/60) in control group (P < 0.01). The course of cured patients in observation group was obviously shorter than that of control group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of routine medication, shallow needling combined with acupoint application can improve the therapeutic effect and shorten the course for acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Bao'an Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Shenzhen 518101, China. xiehlqy@126.com
authors.forename: Hong-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xue-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Shi-Zhao
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shang-Jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiao-Yue
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult