Patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) sometimes visit acupuncture practitioners for treatment. We can find descriptions of acupuncture procedures and methods for treating facial spasm in textbooks of clinical acupuncture. However, there is almost to literature that presents data on the actual responses of HFS patients to acupuncture. Therefore, we cannot judge satisfactorily whether acupuncture is suitable for treating of HFS at this time.
Six HFS patients (37 to 56 years old) who had not responded to conventional medical treatment were treated with electro-acupuncture therapy (EAT). EAT was applied to facial muscles for twenty minutes once or twice a week.EAT was continued until the patient dropped out or changed treatment. The period of treatment ranged from one month to one year. After a course of weekly treatments, ranging from one week to one month, the frequency and degree of spasms decreased in five of the six patients. No serious adverse events due to the treatments were observed.
It seems that EAT is safe and produces a gentle anticonvulsant effect. Therefore, it is conceivable that EAT could be applicable for HFS. Thus, if the treatment with microvascular decompression or botulinum toxin is contraindicated, EAT may possibly be an alternative.

[Objective] For one facial palsy subject with synkinesis, we applied asynchronous 100Hz EAT and examined the effects. We also examined changes in the effects according to various frequencies.
[Methods] We applied EAT to Mm.faciales, and the evaluation was based mainly on EMG findings (the EMG amplitude, EMG survival continuance time) as well as facial palsy score, VAS, ENoG. We examined changes after treatment and observed the process.
[Results] Change in EMG amplitude were not recognized, but the EMG persistance was shortened after treatment and during the process of observation. VAS, facial palsy score, and ENoG were improved. EMG persistance was not changed by 1 Hz EAT, was prolonged by 30Hz EAT, and was shortened by 100 Hz EAT.
[Conclusion] One hundred Hz EAT shortened EMG persistance, and reduced the subjective symptoms of synkinesis. In addition, we were able to improve facial palsy score and ENoG value.