Facial paralysis may be contracted by people in all age groups, with the young and middle frequently affected. This disease attacks the patient in a very sudden way, resulting in loose and uncontrollable muscle at one side of the face. However, there are no such symptoms as hemiplegia, confused state of mind, etc. shown. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) regards this disease as mainly caused by invasion of exopathic factors that blocked movement of qi and blood, resulting in loss of nutrient supply.

A group of 300 patients (180 males and 120 females) aged from 7 -- 60, of whom the majority　aged from 20 -- 35. The duration of the disease varied from 1 -- 30 days. Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yangbai (GB 14), Sibai (ST 2), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Fengchi (GB 20), Hegu (LI 4), Waiguan (TE 5) were selected. A little bleeding was made at the facial acupuncture points once every other day. An acupuncture needle made of stainless steel sized 28 was used to puncture the skin swiftly, then pushed underneath the skin over a distance of about 1 cun. The needle was kept there for 30 minutes after the patient had a sore and bulging feeling. Among 300 patients, 270 were cured (90 %), 25 noticeably improved (8. 3 %), and 5 ineffective (1. 7 %).
In dealing with facial paralysis, modern medical science usually uses hormones such as prednisone acetates to lessen the swelling and bulging feeling in the face, facilitated by muscle injection of Vitamin B or B  to nourish the nerves. However, this therapy has significant side effects, whereas the acupuncture therapy described above has particular therapeutic effect. In this therapy, wind and cold are dispelled, blood circulation improved and the collaterals cleared by combined use of local and remote point selection, as guided by the TCM principles.

By Cheng Guiying