Role and Possibility of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the 2023 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Facial Nerve Paralysis

Abstract

This paper introduces the 2023 guidelines for the treatment of facial nerve palsy, which have been revised for the first time in 12 years, mainly related to acupuncture. The purpose of this study is to assist medical professionals in selecting appropriate evaluation and treatment for paralyzed patients. In this revision, the two clinical questions on acupuncture and moxibustion are recommended: (1) Is acupuncture effective for early recovery from paralysis (acute phase)? Both have been reorganized from "not recommended" to "weakly recommended". Regarding these results, several systematic reviews have been published in which acupuncture intervention can be expected to be more effective than conventional treatment (control) in recovering from paralysis in the acute phase and reducing sequelae such as contracture and stiffness in the chronic phase. Among them, it is suggested that prevention and reduction of aftereffects in particular contribute to the improvement of quality of life. Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment and guidance on self-care are also considered to be the role of the acupuncturist.