The curative effect and mechanism of facial spasm treated by acupuncture at Houxi point were studied. 220 cases of facial spasm were divided randomly into treatment and control groups

175 cases were treated by puncturing Houxi point and 45 cases were treated with acupoint injection of Vitamin B_(12). Result: The total effective rate (98.8% ) in the treatment group was much better than that (75. 6 % ) in the control group

P < 0. 01. Results indicated that the shorter the course of disease

the higher the cure rate; the longer the course of disease

the lower the cure rate. Besides

the follow-up ob- servation indicated that the shorter the course of disease

the lower the recurrence rate; the longer the course of disease

the higher the recurrence rate. The acupuncture at Houxi point for treatment of facial spasm is a unique method

and has a good curative effect.