Acupuncture Combined with Moxibustion for Peripheral Facial Paralysis: Effects on Rehabilitation Outcome

Objective To evaluate the rehabilitative efficacy of acupuncture combined with moxibustion in patients with peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) and identify populations who may derive maximal benefit from this combined therapy. Methods This retrospective cohort study enrolled 100 PFP patients treated between January 2021 and June 2024. Patients received either acupuncture plus moxibustion with conventional treatment (observation group, n = 57) or acupuncture with conventional treatment alone (control group, n = 43). Outcomes included clinical efficacy, House–Brackmann (H–B) facial nerve grading, symptom resolution time, and complication incidence. Subgroup analyses were conducted by baseline severity and disease course. Results The observation group achieved a higher overall effective rate (92.98% vs. 74.42%, P = 0.021), superior facial nerve functional recovery (61.40% vs. 41.86% achieving normal function, P = 0.030), and accelerated symptom resolution (all P < 0.01) compared with those of controls. Complication incidence was significantly lower (10.53% vs. 27.91%, P = 0.025). Subgroup analyses revealed that patients with severe baseline paralysis (Grade IV: 94.12% vs. 44.44%, P = 0.010) or delayed presentation (4–14 days: 90.63% vs. 65.22%, P = 0.038) demonstrated the most pronounced therapeutic advantage from adjunctive moxibustion. Conclusion Acupuncture combined with moxibustion significantly improves rehabilitation outcomes in PFP, particularly for patients with severe paralysis or delayed treatment initiation. This combined approach shows promise for clinical application and merits further validation through prospective randomized controlled trials.