Clinical observation of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with fire-dragon cupping in the treatment of acute-phase peripheral facial palsy with co-morbid anxiety and depression
摘要
To evaluate the effect of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with fire-dragon cupping on patients with acute peripheral facial paralysis with co-morbid anxiety and depression.
MethodsA total of 80 patients with acute peripheral facial paralysis with co-morbid anxiety and depression were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table method, with 40 patients in each group. In the control group, acupuncture therapy combined with routine care was given; in the observation group, thunder-fire moxibustion and fire-dragon cupping therapy were added. Both groups were treated once a day, 6 times a week, with 1 d of rest, for 4 consecutive weeks (a total of 24 treatments). The House-Brackmann (H-B) grading, facial clinimetric evaluation (FaCE), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used before and after the intervention to evaluate the facial nerve function, quality of life, mental health, and clinical efficacy of the two groups.
ResultsAfter treatment, patients in both groups showed improvement in H-B grading, scores of all dimensions of the FaCE scale, and SAS and SDS scores compared to those before treatment, and the differences within the groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 95.0% in the observation group and 75.0% in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the H-B grading of the observation group was better than that of the control group (P<0.05); the scores of all dimensions of the FaCE scale and SAS and SDS scores of the observation group were better than those of the control group (P<0.05).
ConclusionAdding thunder-fire moxibustion and fire-dragon cupping therapy to acupuncture and routine care can promote the recovery of facial nerve function, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve the patients’ living standard, and thus is suitable for popularization and application.