ObjectiveTo explore the influence of electroacupuncture combined with point bloodletting and cupping for facial nerve function recovery in acute stage of idiopathic facial palsy （IFP）. MethodsEighty patients with IFP in the acute stage were randomly divided into 40 cases each in the treatment group and the control group. In the control group， oral prednisone acetate tablets were administered during the acute stage when the disease duration was less than 10 days； and electroacupuncture and flash cupping were provided during the recovery stage when the disease duration was more than 10 days， five times a week. For treatment group in acute stage， the stellate ganglion， vagus nerve stimulation point in the auricular cavity， Yifeng （TE 17） and Tinghui （GB 2） were needled on the affected side on the basis of the treatment of control group， with Yifeng and Tinghui connecting to electroacupuncture apparatus， once a day； point bloodletting and then cupping in Yifeng 2 times a week； in recovery stage， the treatment was the same as that of the control group. Both groups were treated until the 45th day from onset. The primary outcome was the Toronto facial grading system （SFGS）， and the secondary outcomes included house-brackmann （H-B） grade， facial disability index （FDI） score， and number of H-B grade-Ⅰ cases. Adverse events were recorded in both groups. ResultsThe SFGS scores of the patients in both groups were higher on the 10th， 30th and 45th days after onset of disease compared with those before the treatment （P＜0.05）； the H-B grade was lower on the 30th and 45th days after the onset of the disease compared with those before the treatment （P＜0.05）； and the facial disability index physical function （FDIP） and facial disability index social function （FDIS） scores were higher on the 30th and 45th days after onset of disease （P＜0.05）. SFGS scores of patients in the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group on the 30th and 45th days after onset （P＜0.05）； H-B grade was significantly lower than that of the control group on the 30th and 45th days after onset （P＜0.05）； and FDIP scores on the 45th day after onset， and FDIS scores on the 30th and 45th days after onset were significantly higher than those of the control group （P＜0.05）. At the end of treatment， 77.50% （31 cases） achieved H-B grade-Ⅰ in the treatment group， which was more than 55.00% （22 cases） in the control group （P＜0.05）. No adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionElectroacupuncture combined with point bloodletting and cupping for IFP in acute stage can improve the recovery degree of facial nerve function， improve effectiveness， and show a high degree of safety.