Clinical Observation On Treatment Of Acute Facial Paralysis With Eight - Pulse Meridian Point

Objective:Comparing the curative effects of using eight confluence points to treat peripheral facial paralysis. Eight confluence points were selected through syndrome differentiation. Routine acupoints were also used. This study was conducted with the aims to optimize treatment and provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of peripheral facial paralysis.Methods:39 cases of facial paralysis were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group and the control group. Except for the off patients, each group containing 17 effective cases. Both groups used local and distal acupoints for treatment. The routine acupoints of the two groups were the same, namely:Yangbai, Sibai, Cuanzhu, Sizhukong, Yingxiang, Dicang, Jiache, Quanliao, Yifeng. The treatment group was treated with syndrome differentiation and a selection of eight confluence points as distal acupoints. For patients who presented with acute ear pain, Waiguan was used, for those who had headache and tear secretion, Zulinqi was used. During the recovery period, Shenmai was used if the upper eyelid experienced weakness while closing. Houxi was selected when the lip is heavily skewed. For patients with facial muscle convulsions, we chose Lieque and Zhaohai. Gongsun and Neiguan were selected when the disease is prolonged with qi deficiency and blood stasis. Distal acupoints Hegu, Taichong are fixed for the control group, and Zusanli was added in the recovery period. Operation:Filiform needle therapy was conducted. At the beginning of the treatment, shallow and gentle needling was carried out on the face, using the neutral reinforcing-reducing technique for 1 week. Thereafter, during the early stage, distal acupuncture was done using the reducing technique, with needles inserted obliquely. During the recovery stage, Zusanli was needled using the reinforcing technique, while Hegu, Taichong were needled using the neutral reinforcing-reducing technique. Only routine acupoints were used for the control group. Standardization on the selected routine acupoints, acupuncture technique, needle retention time, and treatment frequency was done for both the treatment and control group. Two groups of patients were evaluated before treatment, during treatment and after treatment. A treatment course was 6 weeks. Curative effect was accessed based on the score of the static and dynamic facial nerve function. Scores between the two groups were compared using SPSS19.0 statistical analysis software in order to figure out the curative effect of the treatment.Results:1.Before treatment, both groups show no significant difference in neurological function rating, static facial nerve function score and dynamic facial nerve function score (P>0.05);2.After treatment, both groups show significant differences in facial nerve function in static, dynamic score within the group (P<0.01), hence significant curative effect was observed for both groups of patients;3. Comparing static facial nerve function score of the two groups before and after treatment, results are statistically significant (P<0.05), hence the effect of the treatment group was significantly better than the control group.4. Comparing dynamic facial nerve function score of the two groups before and after treatment, results are statistically significant(P<0.05), hence the effect of the treatment group was significantly better than the control group.5. There is no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the overall treatment effect (P<0.05), efficacy rate of the treatment group was 82.35%, and 88.24% for the control group, hence the efficacy rates of the two groups had no significant difference.6. The total time taken for full recovery in both groups exhibited significant statistical difference (P<0.05). Time taken by the treatment group was significantly less than that of the control group. From a larger point of view of facial paralysis treatment, it can be concluded that the methods used by the treatment group was significantly better than those used by the control group.Conclusion:The two methods used have a significant effect on the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis. Eight confluent points selection by syndrome differentiation can significantly promote the recovery of facial function in patients with peripheral facial paralysis, enhance the clinical therapeutic effect and shorten the total treatment time. From a broader perspective, this helps to shorten the course of the disease, and accelerates treatment progress.