Clinical Effects of Moving Cupping Therapy Combined with Integrative Korean Medicine Treatment on Peripheral Facial Palsy: Case Series

Abstract

This study aimed to report the effect of moving cupping therapy (MCT) on peripheral facial palsy (PFP). Four patients with PFP treated with MCT combined with integrative Korean medicine treatment (KMT). Patients were hospitalized for < 17 days. House-Brackmann Grading System (HBGS), Yanagihara grading score (Y-score), and Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SBGS) were used to assess the changes during treatment periods, and facial photos were taken at admission, interim, and discharge. Facial paralysis symptoms and HBGS grades improved in all patients (Patient 1: HBGS of IV to II; Patient 2: HBGS of V to III; Patient 3: HBGS of IV to II; Patient 4: HBGS of IV to II) following an average of 14.5 days of treatment. The mean (± standard deviation) Y-scores and SBGS scores also increased (Δ[Y-score]: 13.75 ± 3.50 and Δ[SBGS]: 40.00 ± 13.11) from baseline to end of treatment. These findings suggest the clinical effectiveness of MCT combined with integrative KMT in treating patients with PFP.