[Clinical research on facial neuritis treated with Chen's needling therapy]

To evaluate the effect of Chen's needling therapy on facial neuritis.

Eighty-four patients of facial neuritis were randomized into a Chen's needling therapy group and a conventional needling group, 42 cases in each one. In the Chen's needling therapy group, the few acupoints were selected (5 acupoints). Chen's flying insertion of needle and the reinforcing and reducing techniques were applied. In the conventional needling group, the acupoint selection and needling method were used routinely. The treatment of 1 month was 1 session in the two groups. According to the symptom and physical sign quantification scale, the effect was assessed at multiple time points respectively (in 2 weeks of treatment, 1 session of treatment and 1 month after 1 session of treatment). Simultaneously, House-Brackmann scale and EMG were adopted to determine the function of facial nerve.

After treatment, the results of symptoms and physical sign quantification scale and facial nerve EMG were different significantly as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P < 0.05). But the differences were not significant between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

Chen's needling therapy achieves the same effect on facial neuritis as compared with the conventional acupuncture therapy, and additionally it is specialized at flying insertion of needle technique and selection of few acupoints.