Background: There are a variety of treatment options for Bell’s palsy. Evidence from randomized controlled trials
indicates corticosteroids can be used as a proven therapy for Bell’s palsy. Acupuncture is one of the most
commonly used methods to treat Bell’s palsy in China. Recent studies suggest that staging treatment is more
suitable for Bell’s palsy, according to different path-stages of this disease. The aim of this study is to compare the
effects of prednisolone and staging acupuncture in the recovery of the affected facial nerve, and to verify whether
prednisolone in combination with staging acupuncture is more effective than prednisolone alone for Bell’s palsy in
a large number of patients.