title: [Children peripheral facial palsy treated with three therapies of strong stimulation: a randomized controlled trial].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the three therapies of strong stimulation for children peripheral facial palsy so as to deal with the problem on the inactive acceptance of acupuncture in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty cases of children peripheral facial palsy were randomized into a moxa stick group (group A) and a group with three therapies of strong stimulation (group B). Baihui (GV 20), Sibai (ST 2), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6) and the other acupoints were selected in the two groups and stimulated with half-needling technique. In the group A, 3 moxa sticks were bunched together for surrounding moxibustion over one of Dazhui (GV 14), Yangbai (GB 14), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Jiache (ST 6) in each treatment. In the group B, the strong pricking therapy, strong cupping therapy and strong moxibustion were adopted at the same acupoints as the group A. The treatment was given twice every day in the first 5 days. Afterwards, the clinical efficacy was analyzed statistically. The treatment was kept on for the effective case. Those with failed effect were transferred to the other group. Since the 6th day, the treatment was given once every day. In 15 days, the clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups and House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grade was compared before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 5 days of treatment, the total effective rate was 94.7% (36/38) in the group B, which was better than 52.4% (22/42) in the group A, (P < 0.001). In 15 days of treatment, the cured rate and the total effective rate in the group B were 67.3% (35/52) and 96.2% (50/52), which were better than 9.5% (2/21) and 85.7% (18/21) in the group A, respectively (P < 0. 001, P < 0.05). Additionally, the result of H-B facial nerve function grade in the group B was superior to the group A (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The half-needling technique and the three therapies of strong stimulation in combination achieve the superior efficacy on children peripheral facial palsy as compared with the half-needling technique combined with moxa stick therapy. And the obvious adverse reaction has not been found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Chinese Medicine Healthcare Center, Cangzhou Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital of Hebei Province Cangzhou 061001, China. caowenzhongm@126.com
authors.forename: Wen-Zhong
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Chinese Medicine Healthcare Center, Cangzhou Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital of Hebei Province Cangzhou 061001, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Ru
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Physical Health Examination Center, Cangzhou Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital of Hebei Province.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009071:Moxibustion; D016896:Treatment Outcome