Objective: To observe the differences in the therapeutic effect on refractory facial paralysis between meridian sinew needling therapy and routine penetrating needling therapy.Methods: A total of 46 patients with refractory facial paralysis were randomly divided into a meridian sinew needling group and a routine penetrating needling group,23 cases in each one.The same acupoints were selected in the two groups.Besides using routine acupuncture technique,a part of acupoints were stimulated with the meridian sinew needling technique in the meridian sinew needling group.In the routine penetrating needling group,a part of acupoints were stimulated with the routine penetrating needling technique.In both of the groups,the needles were retained for 30 min and the treatment was given once every two days,10 treatments made one course.A total of 3 courses of treatment were required at the interval of 2 days.The score and grade of facial nerve function were recorded before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups.The clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated.Results: After treatment,the scores of facial nerve function were significantly improved compared with that before treatment in the patients of the two groups (both P ＜ 0.05).The difference value of the score of facial nerve function before and after treatment in the meridian sinew needling group was higher than that in the routine penetrating needling group,indicating a statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).The grades of facial nerve function after treatment were different significantly as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (both P ＜ 0.05).However,the difference was not significant between the two groups after treatment (P ＞ 0.05).After treatment,the total effective rate in the meridian sinew needling group was 100％,which was higher than 91.3％ in the routine penetrating needling group,while without statistical significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion: Meridian sinew needling therapy of acupuncture greatly improves facial nerve function as compared with routine penetrating needling therapy.It would be an potential effective acupuncture technique for refractory facial paralysis.