Facial Paralysis

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• Definition
• Introduction
• Signs & Symptoms
• Research Summary

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Executive Summary

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Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Facial Paralysis" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Facial Paralysis" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Facial Paralysis" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2026 in the journal American Journal of Otolaryngology found that 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.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2025 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology found that Acupuncture, when integrated with Western medicine during the early phase of peripheral facial paralysis, improves clinical response rates and accelerates facial function recovery. This work conducted a systematic review of eight databases, fishing out significant literature from inception till date. The inclusion criteria zeroed in on randomized controlled trials, which certified the effectiveness of acupuncture in acute and non-acute phases of peripheral facial paralysis. The outcomes of this in-depth investigation boiled down to factors such as clinical effectiveness, facial nerve function rates, cure time, and non-cure rates at 1-month follow-up. The methodological quality and certainty of evidence were gauged using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the GRADE framework. Subsequent data analysis leveraged Review Manager and Stata softwares and the results eschewed numerical probabilities or statistics for a more comprehensive understanding. In the pool of 15 randomized controlled trials taken into account, most showed a low risk of bias. It emerged that adjunctive acupuncture therapy resulted in a significant improvement in the clinical effective rate, with indications pointing to a relative increase in the chances of treatment success. Notable improvements were also seen in facial nerve function. The benefits extended to a marked reduction in cure time. Conversely, some measurements like the non-cure rate at 1-month follow-up did not show statistically significant improvements. Furthermore, the certainty of the evidence, as measured by the GRADE criteria, was found to be low for most outcomes examined.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2025 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology found that Acupuncture has shown promise in improving the clinical efficacy and reducing recovery time of peripheral facial palsy treatment with few side effects. Methodology: The researchers conducted a wide-ranging search across databases including Wanfang, VIP, CNKI, CBM, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library, collecting systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to acupuncture treatment for peripheral facial palsy. The collected studies were then evaluated using AMSTAR2, PRISMA, and GRADE tools for methodology, reporting quality, and evidence quality. Discussion of Results: In total, 17 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included in this study. The evaluations revealed a mix of high, moderate, and low-quality studies based on AMSTAR2 assessment and PRISMA results. The GRADE results indicated that most items provided low or very low-quality evidence. Despite the inconsistent quality of the evaluated studies, the research found that acupuncture could improve the clinical treatment outcomes of peripheral facial palsy whilst reducing recovery time and side effects.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2025 in the journal Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine found that Acupuncture effectively treats intractable facial paralysis, with characteristic acupuncture manipulation showing enhanced therapeutic results. The research was carried out as a multicentre, single-blind, randomized controlled trial between October 2022 to June 2024. There were eighty-nine participants with intractable facial paralysis, randomly divided into an ordinary acupuncture group and a characteristic acupuncture group. Main acupoints were selected which included Yangbai, Quanliao, Yingxiang, Shuigou, Dicang, Chengjiang, Taiyang, Jiache, Fengchi, and Hegu. While the ordinary acupuncture group received traditional acupuncture manipulation, the characteristic acupuncture group received its characteristic version. Acupuncture treatments were given three times a week, equalling ten sessions in total for a full course that lasted ten weeks. Participants' facial recovery was evaluated at baseline and after each treatment course using the Anzhong Facial Paralysis Precision Scale and the House-Brackmann Grading Scale. Infrared technology was utilized to notice any temperature differences between the healthy and affected side of participant's faces. The outcomes after the second treatment course showed significant differences in scores between the two groups, with the differences being more considerable after the third course. Similar patterns were recorded in the House-Brackmann Grading Scale scores. Further, there were notable differences in temperatures of the frontal and ocular areas after the second treatments and mouth corner temperature after the third course. No safety-related incidents were observed throughout the research period. Conclusively, a strong correlation was found between the AFPPS-ECGS and the House-Brackmann Grading Scale. Therefore, the results indicate that acupuncture is indeed an effective treatment for intractable facial paralysis. Characteristic acupuncture manipulation even boosted the therapeutic effect and the use of the AFPPS-ECGS provided a more accurate reflection on patients' recovery status.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2025 in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that Acupoint embedding therapy demonstrates higher effective rates and cure rates for intractable facial paralysis compared to manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture. A systematic review of existing databases like PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and several others was conducted, with an aim to identify randomized controlled trials that study the impact of Acupoint embedding therapy on intractable facial paralysis. Language restrictions were not considered and the search was carried out up to February 2024. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and analysis. The quality of evidence was evaluated using the Risk of Bias tool (version 2.0) and a meta-analysis was carried out using RevMan software. The review included eighteen randomized controlled trials involving a total of 1881 patients. The study found that acupoint embedding therapy showed higher effective rates and cure rates when compared to manual acupuncture. The same held true when compared to electroacupuncture, except that there was no significant difference in facial nerve function scores found. There were also no significant differences in adverse reactions between acupoint embedding and electroacupuncture therapy. The study points out that most evidence in support of the efficacy and safety of acupoint embedding treatment is insufficient at the moment.

A published in 2025 in the journal Neurological Research found that Acupoint injection can significantly enhance treatment effectiveness, reduce inflammation, and aid faster recovery of facial nerve function in acute peripheral facial paralysis cases. In the study, 85 patients suffering from peripheral facial paralysis were classified into three groups. The control group underwent a treatment involving prednisone acetate. The second group was termed the thermal design power group, and were treated with acupuncture coupled with specific electromagnetic spectrum irradiation. Lastly, the acupoint injection group received the same treatment as the second group but with the addition of vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 acupoint injections. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed based on Portmann scores of facial paralysis, House-Brackmann facial nerve function grading, duration required for effective treatment, and serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The result demonstrated that those in the thermal design power group significantly outperformed the control group in terms of Portmann and House-Brackmann scores. Meanwhile, the acupoint injection group scored higher than the thermal design power group after each treatment round. Further, the time required to witness significant effectiveness reduced in the order: acupoint injection group, thermal design power group, and control group. The study also found that the highest cure rate was in the acupoint injection group. The serum inflammatory factor levels were lower in the thermal design power group than the control group, and significantly lower in the acupoint injection group.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2024 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology found that The combination of electroacupuncture and TDP therapy is more effective in treating peripheral facial paralysis than other therapeutic methods. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, several databases were scoured for relevant literature on randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials exploring the effects of electroacupuncture combined with TDP for the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias, determined the quality, and extracted data from the selected articles; these studies were then subjected to a meta-analysis performed using Stata15.0 software. Meta-analysis findings showed no significant difference in the effective rate of electroacupuncture combined with TDP and other treatment options, but the recovery rate was notably better. Moreover, sub-group analyses revealed that the combination therapy showed superior efficacy particularly in studies involving minors. In contrast, no significant difference was noted in studies exclusively involving adults. Regardless of whether electroacupuncture was used alone or in combination, the recovery rate was better than other methods.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2024 in the journal Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound found that Eastern medicine treatments for facial paralysis, including acupuncture and herbal treatments, did not present a higher effectiveness rate than Western medicine alone in this meta-analysis. The methodology of this meta-analysis involved a thorough review of the PubMed and Cochrane databases, aligning with PRISMA guidelines. Studies included in this analysis had to be peer-reviewed and published between 2000 and 2023, and report on Eastern medicine interventions for facial paralysis. The specific interventions investigated were categorized into six groups, including standard acupuncture, special needle therapies, needle therapy with other alternative treatments, herbal medicine, alternative treatments with Western medicine, and Western medicine alone. Primary outcomes extracted from these studies were 'effective' and 'cured' rates, and a multiple-treatment meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effectiveness across groups. Discussion surrounding the results revealed no significant differences in effectiveness or cure rates across all intervention groups. Regardless of the combination or type of Easten medicine treatment applied, none demonstrated a higher cure or effectiveness rate than Western medicine alone. While the meta-analysis identified several quality concerns - such as missing control groups, lack of blinding, and insufficient randomization - in several studies, it also brought forward the failure of many to report complications, thus inhibiting conclusions to be drawn about the safety of these Eastern medicine interventions.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2023 in the journal PLOS One found that Electroacupuncture therapy appears to be beneficial in treating intractable facial paralysis, significantly improving the cure rate without reported adverse events. The method involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies (engaging 1,119 participants) related to electroacupuncture treatment for intractable facial paralysis, procured from seven databases. The studies assessed were published up to November 30, 2022, and their bias risk varied. Primary measures examined include the total effective rate, cure rate, and various scoring systems like Portmann, House-Brackmann, and Sunnybrook scores, alongside the occurrence of adverse events. The results showed that electroacupuncture was more effective in improving the total effective rate and the cure rate in the case of intractable facial paralysis compared to non-electroacupuncture counterparts. Interestingly, none of the studies reported any adverse events associated with the therapy. However, the lack of sufficient evidence to evaluate its safety and follow-up effect remains a concern.

A published in 2022 in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology found that Acupuncture combined with nerve repair significantly enhances the recovery rate in patients with peripheral facial paralysis by aiding nerve regeneration. The research applied traditional acupuncture therapy in conjunction with nerve repair in treating peripheral facial paralysis. Examination via a microscope revealed the extent of the clinical effectiveness of combined nerve repair and acupuncture during the acute stage of the facial paralysis. Following the artificial nerve repair procedure performed 21 days prior, the nerve injury demonstrated varying levels of recovery. Furthermore, the myelin sheath, an insulating layer that forms around nerves, was found to be gradually developing and encompassing the new nerve fibers. The study found the inflammation that naturally occurs when treating nerve defects to be an inevitable process. However, moderate acupuncture was found to significantly aid and promote the repair of peripheral nerve defects. This research revealed that the combination of acupuncture and nerve repair led to outstanding improvements in the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis. The study showed that this combined treatment significantly increased the patient recovery rate. This new treatment technology was found to be simple, safe, effective, and presents a valuable enhancement to the existing treatment plans for peripheral facial paralysis.

A published in 2022 in the journal Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine found that Electroacupuncture therapy significantly improves muscle strength in patients with peripheral facial palsy. In the study, a surface nerve electromyogram (EMG) recognition model was created that utilized a multiview convolutional neural network to investigate the value of electroacupuncture as a treatment for peripheral facial palsy. The model was compared with traditional single-view convolutional neural networks, and the influence of multiple view aggregation methods on facial recognition accuracy was analyzed. As for the data, they were obtained from 150 patients randomly divided into two groups: a control group receiving only basic treatment and a treatment group given both basic treatment and electroacupuncture. The therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture was evaluated after a four-week treatment period based on surface EMG parameters and the Horsfall-Barratt scale. The results indicated that the multiview convolutional neural networks had superior facial recognition accuracy compared to all single-view networks. The treatment group showed a higher overall treatment effectiveness rate compared to the control group, demonstrating that electroacupuncture can significantly improve muscle strength in patients with peripheral facial palsy. Furthermore, the proposed multiview aggregation network demonstrated higher face recognition accuracy than other multiview aggregation methods.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal World Journal of Acupuncture - Moxibustion found that Warm needling therapy is superior to acupuncture in treating peripheral facial paralysis, providing a therapeutic option for the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis. The meta-analysis of 5 articles showed that warm needling therapy could improve the House–Brackmann (H–B) scores of patients with peripheral facial paralysis more than acupuncture, indicating that warm needling therapy provides superior improvement in the function of facial nerve innervation in the patients. No adverse events were reported in the included studies. The methodological quality of the included studies was generally low.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine found that In oral care, acupuncture can be a supplement to conventional treatments in temporomandibular disorders, facial pain, pain management, Sjoegrens syndrome, and in phobias and anxiety. Acupuncture aims to treat a range of medical and dental ailments, though is most commonly used for pain relief. This article reviews about the various possible roles of acupuncture in clinical dental practice. Acupuncture has potential in supplementing conventional treatment procedures by its diverse applicability outreach. Role of acupuncture in dental practice has been well supported by clinical trials. Its role in alleviating facial pain, pre-operative and post-operative dental pain has led to its widespread application.

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