Objective To compare the outcome difference between the heat-sensitive and non-sensitive moxibustion stimulation of Yifeng(TE 17)in the treatment of peripheral facial palsy.Methods A total of 43patients with peripheral facial paralysis were divided into heat-sensitive moxibustion(n=21)and non-sensitive moxibustion(n=22)groups in accordance with their reactions to moxa-heat stimulation.Mild moxibustion was applied to bilateral Yifeng(TE 17)for 45minutes

followed by mild acupuncture stimulation of Cuanzhu(BL 2)

Yangbai(GB 14)

Sibai(ST 2)

Hegu(LI 4)

etc.Moxibustion treatment was conducted once daily for 10days

and acupuncture treatment given once daily for 20days(with 2days interval between every 10 days).Following moxibustion

if the patient felt regional heat penetrating to the deep tissue

extending peripherally

or propagating to other part of the body

or felt mild warm in the stimulated region but warmer in the slightly distant part

or felt mild warm on the skin surface but warmer in the deep tissue

it was considered to be heat-sensitivity.Patients with occurrence of heat-sensitivity being equal to and more than 3times during the 10sessions of treatment were assigned to heat-sensitive group

and those with occurrence of heat-sensitivity being equal to or less than 2times assigned to non-sensitive moxibustion group.According to Portmann Scale(including movement and resting posture)for the voluntary movement state of the face

forehead

winkles eye closure

open mouth smile

snarl

and pucker;points 0

1

2and 3indicate no muscular movement

marked asynersis

asynersis and normal

respectively.In the light of resting posture of the eye

the nasolabial fold and mouth corner

0

1

and 2points indicate severe

mild dissymmetry and normal

separately.In evaluation of the therapeutic effect

twenty points(at most)indicate cured

17-19points marked improvement;14-16points improved

and≤13points failure.Results Compared with pre-treatment

Portmann scores of both heat-sensitive moxibustion and non-sensitive moxibustion groups were significantly increased after the treatment(P<0.001)

and the score of the heat-sensitive moxibustion group was markedly higher than that of the non-sensitive moxibustion group(P<0.05).Of the 21and 22facial palsy patients in the heat-sensitive moxibustion and non-sensitive moxibustion groups

8and 5cases were cured

10and 7were markedly effective

3and 10were improved

with the markedly effective rates being 85.71% and 54.55%

respectively.The therapeutic effect of the heat-sensitive moxibustion group was statistically better(P<0.05).Conclusion Heat-sensitive moxibustion is significantly superior to non-sensitive moxibustion in improving symptoms of peripheral facial palsy patients

suggesting a necessity for paying attention to patients' reactions during moxibustion treatment.