Acupuncture combined with different traditional Chinese medicines outperforms standalone acupuncture for peripheral facial palsy treatment in terms of overall effectiveness and facial nerve recovery.
The study embarked on a comprehensive meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the efficacy of combining acupuncture with other traditional Chinese medicine practices in treating peripheral facial palsy. The review involved sifting through eight databases until May 2025. The research data pertaining to the study characteristics was meticulously extracted by two independent reviewers. Assessment of the bias risk associated with the included studies was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool 2.
The study concluded that combining acupuncture with other traditional Chinese medicines such as tuina and cupping, topical application of traditional Chinese medicine, herbal fumigation and steam therapy, and pricking blood, was more effective for peripheral facial palsy treatment. This combination therapy also demonstrated superior efficacy in improving the overall effective rate, enhancing facial nerve function, improving social function, and physical function, and was linked with a lower incidence of adverse reactions, when compared with acupuncture treatment alone.
