Facial nerve palsy herbal medicine and steroid combination safety confirmed...Establishment of Scientific Evidence for Treatment of Korea-Both Cooperation
Sep 02, 2025
In the largest study in Korea, the safety of combination steroid and herbal medicine treatment for facial nerve palsy patients was confirmed.
As a result of analyzing the effects on liver and kidney function on 1,076 patients with facial nerve palsy, it was revealed that combination treatment was generally safe.
It is of great significance in that the basis for Korean-Both collaborative treatment has been established in the future clinical field.
The results of this study are a research team led by professors Nam Sang-soo, Koo Bon-hyuk, Kim Jung-hyun, and Lee Dong-min at the Department of Bedding at Gangdong Kyunghee University Oriental Hospital, published in the August issue of the SCI(E)-level international journal 『Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare』.
◇ Many treatments include facial paralysis and combination steroids and herbal medicine.
The standard treatment of peripheral facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy) is established by early high-dose steroid administration. However, in the actual clinical field, many patients are receiving oriental medical treatments such as acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, and herbal medicine, and these oriental medical treatments have been established as important treatment methods in the recovery process of facial nerve palsy. Nevertheless, studies that scientifically verified the safety of both steroids and herbal medicine were still insufficient.
Professor Nam Sang-soo's research team proved the safety of combination treatment of herbal medicine and steroids through the largest data in Korea, and presented the scientific basis and social necessity of Korean and Western collaboration treatment at the same time.
The research team conducted a retrospective analysis of 1,076 patients who visited the facial paralysis center at Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital from 2011 to 2020. Patients measured liver function (AST, ALT, ALP, bilirubin) and kidney function (creatinine, glomerular filtration rate) through a total of three blood tests before, during, and after treatment. As a result of the study, no renal dysfunction occurred at all, and a slight increase in liver level was observed in only three patients.
◇ Establishment of scientific basis for treatment of cooperation between Korea and the two countries...Affordable health insurance coverage
The biggest achievement of the study is that it has established a scientific basis for the treatment of Korean-Western collaboration. Facial nerve paralysis can increase the cure rate and reduce the aftereffects only when treatment begins immediately after the outbreak. The early stages of the outbreak are when Western medicine's steroid and antiviral drugs administration and oriental medicine's acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, and herbal medicine treatments have synergistic effects. In particular, the acute phase within 72 hours of onset and the subacute phase within 2 weeks are called 'Golden Time', and this study is significant in that it has proven the safety of collaborative treatment with large-scale data.
Institutional support is also expanding to increase treatment accessibility for facial nerve palsy patients. Starting in 2024, with facial nerve paralysis included in the drug pilot project, patients are covered by health insurance for up to 20 days per year (40 days in total up to 2 diseases). As a result, the burden on patients was reduced, and the number of patients who could experience the effects of herbal medicine combination therapy was broadened.
Professor Nam Sang-soo explained, "This study is significant in that it is the largest study in Korea to scientifically verify the safety of combination steroid and herbal medicine therapy. "The basis for patients to receive Korean-Both collaborative treatment with confidence has been prepared."
As a result of analyzing the effects on liver and kidney function on 1,076 patients with facial nerve palsy, it was revealed that combination treatment was generally safe.
It is of great significance in that the basis for Korean-Both collaborative treatment has been established in the future clinical field.
The results of this study are a research team led by professors Nam Sang-soo, Koo Bon-hyuk, Kim Jung-hyun, and Lee Dong-min at the Department of Bedding at Gangdong Kyunghee University Oriental Hospital, published in the August issue of the SCI(E)-level international journal 『Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare』.
◇ Many treatments include facial paralysis and combination steroids and herbal medicine.
The standard treatment of peripheral facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy) is established by early high-dose steroid administration. However, in the actual clinical field, many patients are receiving oriental medical treatments such as acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, and herbal medicine, and these oriental medical treatments have been established as important treatment methods in the recovery process of facial nerve palsy. Nevertheless, studies that scientifically verified the safety of both steroids and herbal medicine were still insufficient.
Professor Nam Sang-soo's research team proved the safety of combination treatment of herbal medicine and steroids through the largest data in Korea, and presented the scientific basis and social necessity of Korean and Western collaboration treatment at the same time.
The research team conducted a retrospective analysis of 1,076 patients who visited the facial paralysis center at Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital from 2011 to 2020. Patients measured liver function (AST, ALT, ALP, bilirubin) and kidney function (creatinine, glomerular filtration rate) through a total of three blood tests before, during, and after treatment. As a result of the study, no renal dysfunction occurred at all, and a slight increase in liver level was observed in only three patients.
◇ Establishment of scientific basis for treatment of cooperation between Korea and the two countries...Affordable health insurance coverage
The biggest achievement of the study is that it has established a scientific basis for the treatment of Korean-Western collaboration. Facial nerve paralysis can increase the cure rate and reduce the aftereffects only when treatment begins immediately after the outbreak. The early stages of the outbreak are when Western medicine's steroid and antiviral drugs administration and oriental medicine's acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, and herbal medicine treatments have synergistic effects. In particular, the acute phase within 72 hours of onset and the subacute phase within 2 weeks are called 'Golden Time', and this study is significant in that it has proven the safety of collaborative treatment with large-scale data.
Institutional support is also expanding to increase treatment accessibility for facial nerve palsy patients. Starting in 2024, with facial nerve paralysis included in the drug pilot project, patients are covered by health insurance for up to 20 days per year (40 days in total up to 2 diseases). As a result, the burden on patients was reduced, and the number of patients who could experience the effects of herbal medicine combination therapy was broadened.
Professor Nam Sang-soo explained, "This study is significant in that it is the largest study in Korea to scientifically verify the safety of combination steroid and herbal medicine therapy. "The basis for patients to receive Korean-Both collaborative treatment with confidence has been prepared."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
