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Acupuncture for Bell’s palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To assess the clinical evidence for and against acupuncture as a treatment for Bell’s palsy.

Methods

We conducted a literature search of 15 databases from their inception to December 2010 without language restrictions. We included all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) regardless of their controls. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool.

Results

Of the 3 474 articles, only eight RCTs met our inclusion criteria. Four RCTs tested the effects of acupuncture against drug therapy on disease response rate. The meta-analysis of these data showed significant improvements in the acupuncture group [n=463, risk ratio (RR)=1.07, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.13; P=0.006, I2=0%]. Six RCTs tested the effects of acupuncture plus drug therapy versus drug therapy alone. The meta-analysis of this set of RCTs also showed the favorable effects of acupuncture on disease response rate (n=512, RR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.17; P=0.001, I2=13%).

Conclusions

The evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating Bell’s palsy is limited. The number and quality of trials are too low to form firm conclusions. Further rigorous RCTs are warranted but need to overcome the many limitations of the current evidence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Jong-In Kim & Hyo-Jung Kwon

  2. Brain Disease Research Center, Daejeon, Korea

    Myeong Soo Lee & Tae-Young Choi

  3. Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Myeong Soo Lee & Tae-Young Choi

  4. Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Hyangsook Lee

Authors
  1. Jong-In Kim
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  2. Myeong Soo Lee
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  3. Tae-Young Choi
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  4. Hyangsook Lee
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  5. Hyo-Jung Kwon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Myeong Soo Lee.

Additional information

Supported by a Grant from the Kyung Hee University in 2010 (No. KHU-20100699)

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Kim, JI., Lee, M.S., Choi, TY. et al. Acupuncture for Bell’s palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 18, 48–55 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-011-0861-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-011-0861-5

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