Facial Paralysis Treated with Stuck-Needle Therapy

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60 Cases of Facial Paralysis Treated with Acupuncture Stuck Needle Therapy

　　Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture stuck needle therapy in the treatment of facial paralysis.

Methods: Main points are Jiache (ST 6) penetrating to Dicang (ST 4), Yangbai (GB 4) penetrating to Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Cuanzhu (BL 2) or Jingming (BL l), Quanliao (SI 1 or Xiaguan (ST 7), Yifeng (TE 17), Hegu (LI 4), Lieque (LU 7). Secondary points: Zusanli (ST 36), for aged or weak people. Shuigou (GV 26) and Yingxiang (LI 20) for failure of obvious relief of deviation of the mouth and shallow nasolabial groove. Plum blossom needle is used to tap to cause slight bleeding on the affected area for a case caused by traumatic injury. In case, there is damp, add Fenglong (ST 40) and Yinlingquan (SP 9).

Manipulation: Let the patient take a supine posture. Select 1-2.5 cun. No. 28 or 32 filiform needles, puncture Jiache (ST 6) Dicang (ST 4) with a No. 28 needle, other points are punctured with No. 32 needles. When the needle reaches certain depth, rotate and twirl the needle with the thumb forward and index backward. Yifeng (TE 17), Fenglong (ST 40) are punctured with the manipulation of rotating and twirling the needles with the thumb backward and index forward. Stuck needle is created intentionally. Once the needle is Stuck, pull gently backward or forward, or push to fix. Derailed description: to push the needle gently from Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yangbai (GB 14) penetrating to Yuyao (EX-HN 4) to the direction of the eyeball; to pull the needle gently backward from Jiache (ST 6) to Dicang (ST 4); to press the needles gently and perpendicularly downward on Quanliao (SI 1 or Xiaguan (ST 7) and Hegu (LI 4), to push the needle upward and horizontally on Lieque (LU 7). The times of frequency of pulling (Pushing and pressing) should be a multiple of 9. (it is reinforcing method when the hole is pressed after removal of the needle). To pull the needle gently and backward for a multiple of 6 times on Yifeng (TE 17). (It is reducing method when the hole is enlarged by shaking). Treatment is given daily. 10 sessions constitute one treatment course.

Results: Of the 60 cases, 58 cases were cured, 2 cases were effectively treated. The total effective rate was 100%. The shortest treatment course covered 6 days (sessions), the longest one 50 days (sessions). Most of the cured cases had 2-3 courses of treatment.

Conclusion: Gentle pulling (Pushing and pressing) of stuck needle therapy is just like massage which is able to promote the local blood circulation, remove obstruction in the meridians and collaterals, improve nourishment of facial nerve and muscle, relieve inflammation, eliminate the pathological factors, and treat the root cause. So, this therapy is worth to popularize and use because of its good and quick effect, and high curative rate.

By Li Yonghua.
Guangxi Yongning Hospital of TCM, Guangxi 530200, China