Effects of Four-Dimensional Balance Acupuncture Combined with Fire Dragon Cupping on Facial Nerve Function and Facial Blood Flow in Patients with Peripheral Facial Paralysis
SHU Zhensong, et al
School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Massage, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
Abstract:Objective: To investigate the effects of four-dimensional balance acupuncture combined with Fire Dragon cupping on facial nerve function and facial blood flow in patients with peripheral facial paralysis. Methods: A total of 126 patients with peripheral facial paralysis admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a Fire Dragon cupping group and a combined group,with 63 patients in each group.The Fire Dragon cupping group received Fire Dragon cupping therapy,while the combined group received four-dimensional balance acupuncture in addition to Fire Dragon cupping therapy.Facial nerve function,facial blood flow,quality of life,and social and psychological function were evaluated before treatment (T0) and after treatment (T1).Nerve factor levels and adverse reactions were measured before and after treatment,and a 6-month follow-up (T2) was conducted to assess long-term outcomes. Results: At T1,the House-Brackmann (H-B) score and resistance index (RI) levels were significantly reduced (P<0.05),with the combined group showing lower levels than the Fire Dragon cupping group (P<0.05).The peak systolic velocity (PSV),end-diastolic velocity (EDV),World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF),Facial Disability Index (FDI),nerve growth factor (NGF),glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF),and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were significantly increased in both groups (P<0.05),with the combined group showing higher levels than the Fire Dragon cupping group (P<0.05).At T2,the H-B score,RI,PSV,EDV,WHOQOL-BREF,FDIP,and FDIS in the combined group were significantly better than those in the Fire Dragon cupping group (P<0.05),although these indicators in both groups decreased compared to T1 (P<0.05).The recurrence rate in the combined group (1.59%) was significantly lower than that in the Fire Dragon cupping group (12.70%) (P<0.05). Conclusion: Four-dimensional balance acupuncture combined with Fire Dragon cupping can improve facial nerve function,promote facial blood flow,enhance quality of life and social psychological function in patients with peripheral facial paralysis,and demonstrates certain safety and long-term efficacy.
舒振松, 郝晓敏, 杨艺, 侯丽丽, 刘清国. 四维平衡针刺联合火龙罐对周围性面瘫患者面神经功能及面部血流量的影响[J]. 河北医学, 2025, 31(4): 656-662.
SHU Zhensong, et al. Effects of Four-Dimensional Balance Acupuncture Combined with Fire Dragon Cupping on Facial Nerve Function and Facial Blood Flow in Patients with Peripheral Facial Paralysis. HeBei Med, 2025, 31(4): 656-662.