Overview
The infranuclear facial neuritis refers to the acute nonsuppurative inflammation in stylomastoid foramen. This illness is also called infranuclear facial palsy or Bell's palsy. It is manifested in clinical by disturbance muscular movement on the diseased side, and facial distortion. In TCM, it is also called facial paralysis, and belongs to the category of apoplexy involving both collateral and meridian. The etiological factors involve deficiency in the collateral and meridian and exposure of the Yangming and Shaoyang meridian to pathogenic wind, which leads to stagnation of the meridian qi, malnutrition and dysfunction of the tendons and muscles. The therapeutic methods include expelling wind and removing cold, and dredge the meridian passage.

Treatment
1. Dicang (ST4)
Shallow puncture and penetration puncture are eligible puncture methods on the ST4, for example, penetrate ST4 to ST6, several minute's rotating is needed after arrival of qi. The needle is required to be in the body for 20 to 30 minutes. In initial stage, the puncture is done once everyday, in anaphase, once every two days.

2. Yifeng (SJ17)
The SJ17 is punctured by acupuncture needle. The needle tip is inserted to the direction of nasal tip, when the depth reaches to 1 to 1.5 cun, and the needling sensation is expanded to the integral face. The acupuncture should be done once every day, and a treatment course involves ten sessions. The point-injection therapy with Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B12 can be employed at amount of 0.5 to 1 ml on each point. The injection is needed to be done once every day or once every other day, ten times is a treatment course. This can be used to convalescence stage or sequel stage of facial neuritis.

3. Qianzheng
It is an extra point, located on the ventri side of the ear lobe 0.5 to 1 cun. The point application method: grind the curare to powder, place 0.3 to 0.6 mg on sticking plaster or on coated fabric, and apply it to the point on diseased side, change the plaster once two or three days, generally, the plaster need to be changed 4 to 5 times.

4. Neijiache (ST6)
It is an extra point, located inside the mouth on the cheek, just to ST6. On this point, the bloodletting manipulation with a three edged needle is adopted. The needle is sterilized and then inserted 2 to 3 mm deep into the point on the diseased side, crushing it to let blood run out, gargle with warm boiled water. It should be done once every other day.

Note
The main methods of acupuncture manipulation on this kind of illness are penetration puncture, shallow puncture and mild manipulation, for these manipulations benefit the recovery of paralyzed nerves. Thin needle should be chosen when the penetration puncture is manipulated, and it must be done gently, in case that tunica vaginalis of nerves were penetrated and nascent facial nerves grew into near nerves passes and facial spasm were initiated. Penetrate direction should be the same as the direction of facial muscle fiber. Besides the common method of penetrate from one point to another, horizontal needing from one point after inserted from there to the direction of several other points, or using two needles penetrate to different points after inserted into the same point.

For the refractory sequela of the infranuclear facial palsy, moxibustion and moving cupping methods can also be used, and acupuncture points with functions of regulating and nourishing qi and blood can be selected to be needled. Good therapeutic efficacy must be reached after long time treatment. Pricking and cupping therapy can be used at the same time.