OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical therapeutic effects on slow transit constipation (STC) among the combined therapy of acupuncture and herbal medicine, simple use of herbal medicine and simple use of western medication.

METHODSNinety patients of STC were randomized into three groups, 30 cases in each one. In the combined therapy group, acupuncture was used in combination with the modifiedformula. In the Chinese herbal medicine group, the modifiedformula was adopted. In the western medication group, mosapride citrate capsules were used. The duration of the treatment was 28 days. Before and after treatment, the colonic transit test was applied, the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were selected for assessment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the combined therapy group, better than 90.0% (27/30) in the Chinese herbal medicine group and 76.7% (23/30) in the western medication group (<0.05). In each group, before and after treatment, the residual marker amount was reduced apparently in the colonic transit test (all<0.01). After treatment, the residual marker amount in the combined therapy group was less than that in the Chinese herbal medicine group (<0.05) and that in the western medication group (<0.01). The residual marker amount in the Chinese herbal medicine group was less than that in the western medication group (<0.01). Compared with those before treatment, the scores of SAS and SDS were decreased in the combined therapy group and Chinese herbal medicine group (both<0.01). After treatment, the scores of SAS and SDS in the combined therapy group were lower obviously than those in the other two groups (both<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSUnder the guidance oftheory, the combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine improve appa-rently colonic function and relieve the conditions of anxiety and depression in STC patients. The therapeutic effects are better than those treated with simple use of Chinese herbal medicine and simple use of western medication.