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Post-stroke central facial paralysis is a relatively common complication that can significantly reduce a patient’s quality of life. Conventional medical treatments have recognised limitations, prompting interest in complementary approaches such as acupuncture and related therapies. However, with many different acupuncture techniques available, there has been little systematic comparison of their relative effectiveness.
This network meta-analysis pooled data from 22 randomised controlled trials involving 1,888 patients to compare eight types of acupuncture-based interventions for central facial paralysis. Researchers used established statistical methods to rank treatments and assessed evidence quality using validated tools.
Results varied depending on the outcome measure used. When assessing overall treatment effectiveness by conventional grading criteria, acupuncture combined with standard care or with herbal medicine ranked highest. Using traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic criteria, fire needle therapy and scalp acupuncture performed well. For improving patients’ own experience of facial function, the combination of botulinum toxin type A with acupuncture and cupping combined with acupuncture ranked among the top approaches. Heterogeneity across studies was low, and around 70% of the evidence was rated moderate quality or above. The authors note that acupoints such as Hegu, Dicang, and Jiache were commonly selected across studies.
The authors acknowledge that outcome measurement varied between studies, and call for more standardised, high-quality research to confirm long-term benefits.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis offers cautious support for acupuncture-based combination therapies as potentially beneficial adjuncts in managing post-stroke central facial paralysis, though further rigorous research is needed.
Source: Cao J, Xing H, Hu W and colleagues. Frontiers in neurology (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 41970041) · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2021.01.002
