OBJECTIVETo probe the effect of acupuncture at three acupoints of eye on Bell palsy.

METHODSSeventy-six cases were randomly divided into a routine acupuncture group and a Yan three needling group, 38 cases in each group. The routine acupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at routinely selected acupoints including Yifeng (TE 17), Dicang (ST 4), etc. and the Yan three needling group were treated by EA at the routinely selected acupoints combined with acupuncture at three acupoints of eye including Jingming (BL 1), Shangming, Chengqi (ST 1). The intensity on 0.05 ms in the intensity/time (I/t) curve for frontal ventral fronto-occipital muscle and orbicular muscle of mouth at the affected side was used for assessment criteria of course of disease, and frontal ventral fronto-occipital muscle restoring the raising eyebrow action and orbicular muscle of mouth restoring to House-Brackmann grade I and II were regarded as the therapeutic time limit.

RESULTSRoutine EA treatment combined with acupuncture at the 3 acupoints of eye could significantly increase clinical therapeutic effect on Bell palsy with a cured rate of 89.5%, which was better than 65.8% in the routine acupuncture group (P<0.05), and the therapeutic cycle was shorted.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at the 3 acupoints of eye can significantly improve Bell palsy and promote recovery of functions of facial nerves.