Objective To observe the clinical effectiveness of Jingjin(muscle region) needling in the treatment of Hunt facial paralysis(HFP). Methods A total of 80 HFP patients were randomly divided into acupuncture and medication groups(n=40 cases/group). Jingjin needling was applied to Yangbai(GB14) to Shangxing(GV23)

Touwei(ST8)

Cuanzhu(BL2)

Sizhukong(TE23

penetrative needling)

Dicang(ST4) to Jiache(ST6

penetrative needling)

Yingxiang(LI20) and Xiaguan(ST7)

Hegu(LI4)

Yifeng(TE17)

Yuyao(EX-HN 4)

and Shenmai(BL62)

with the needles retained for 30 min. The treatment was conducted once daily

with 10 consecutive days being a therapeutic course

and 3 courses altogether. Patients of the medication group received oral administration of Prednisone acetate(12 days)

Acyclovir(7 days)

intramuscular injection of Vitamin B_(12) and Vitamin B_1(10 days)

then

oral administration of Vitamin B_1

successively. The therapeutic effect was assessed by using House-Brackman(H-B) facial function grading system(grade I to VI)

traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) sign and symptom score

and facial disability index(FDI) scale including FDI physical function(FDIP

food and water swallowing

speaking-pronouncing

dryness or tearing

and mouth-opening) and FDI social function(FDIS

self-rating anxiety/depression scales)

separately.Results After the treatment

the TCM symptom and sign scores for depth of nasolabial groove

nose shrugging

lower lip asymmetry

food retention and post-auricular pain were significantly lower in the medication group(P<0.05).After the treatment

the TCM symptom and sign scores for frontal muscle movement

eyelid opening and closing

depth of nasolabial groove

nose shrugging

lower lip asymmetry

cheek blowing

food retention

latissimus cervicalis contraction

taste disorder

hearing hypersensitivity

tears and discomfort and post-auricular pain were significantly lower in the acupuncture group(P<0.05).Comparison between two groups showed that the TCM symptom and sign scores for frontal muscle movement

eyelid opening and closing

depth of nasolabial groove

nose shrugging

lower lip asymmetry

cheek blowing

food retention

latissimus cervicalis contraction

taste disorder

hearing hypersensitivity

tears and discomfort and post-auricular pain were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the medication group(P<0.05).The scores of FDIP and FDIS were significantly increased in both groups(P<0.01) and notably higher in the acupuncture group than in the medication group(P<0.01) after the treatment. The total effective rate of acupuncture group was 97.5%(39/40)

and that of medication group was 72.5%(29/40). The therapeutic effect of the acupuncture group was significantly superior to that of the medication group(P<0.01).Conclusion Jingjin needling has a good therapeutic effect in improving facial nerve function

psychosomatic function and clinical signs and symptoms in HFP patients

evidently being better than medication.