OBJECTIVE: To probe into a new therapy with less pain, good therapeutic effect and convenience for facial palsy in acute stage. METHODS: Sixty cases were randomly divided into 2 groups, an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with routine acupuncture plus moxibustion on temperature-sensitive points, and the control group with the routine acupuncture. Their therapeutic effects were assessed by the criteria for assessment of facial nerve function stipulated by Japanese Institute for Researching the Facial Nerve in 1997. RESULTS: There were significant differences in cumulative scores of symptoms before and after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.01) and there was a significant difference in the cumulative score of symptoms after treatment between the two groups (P < 0.01). The cured rate was 76.67% in the observation group and 50.00% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The total effective rates were respectively 93.33% and 76.67% in the two groups with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both acupuncture combined with moxibustion on temperature-sensitive points and simple acupuncture have good therapeutic effects on idiopathic facial palsy, but the observation group is better than the control group.