OBJECTIVETo observe the influences of seasonal factors on peripheral facial paralysis by acupuncture.

METHODSFour hundred cases of facial paralysis were divided into spring, summer, autumn and winter groups, 100 cases in each group. All these cases were treated by routine puncture. Fengchi (GB 20), Yifeng (TE 17), Qianzheng (Extra), Jiache (ST 6), and Dicang (ST 4), etc. were applied at affect side, once a day. 2 months observation was carried on to compare the clinical therapeutic effects and average courses. The facial symptoms, physical sign and functional activities were taken as observation indexes of therapeutic effect.

RESULTSThe effect rate was 78.0% (78/100) in spring group, 82.0% (82/100) in summer group, 89.0% (89/100) in autumn group and 92.0% (92/100) in winter group; the effect rate in summer or autumn group was superior to those in spring group and in summer group (all P < 0.05); the average course was (47.6 +/- 22.3) days in spring group, (43.7 +/- 18.4) days in summer group, (31.5 +/- 11.3) days in autumn group and (22.6 +/-9.2) days in winter group, indicating the significant differences between groups except that between spring and summer group (all P < 0.01). The cured and markedly effective rate was 80.1% (161/201) for wind cold type, 53.5% (61/114) for wind heat type, and 36.5% (31/85) for damp heat type, indicating that it of wind cold type was superior to that of wind heat type or damp heat type (P < 0.001, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe syndrome distribution and courses of peripheral facial paralysis are different in different seasons, hence, the diseases should be treated according to attack time and syndromes.