Objective To observe the effect of the TCM three-step analgesic therapy on cancer pain and compare it with the WHO three-step analgesic therapy. Methods A randomized

self-controlled

and prospective study was conducted to observe the 30 patients with cancer pain. Each of them was put into A or B group according to the random number table and treated with TCM three-step analgesic therapy and WHO three-step analgesic therapy in different order. If effective

medication in succession to observe for 2 days would be given. Pain intensity difference （PID）

sum of pain intensity difference （SPID）

pain relief （PR）

total pain relief （TPR）

moderate-above pain relief rate （MPRR）

and total analgesic score （TAS） were observed. Results The PID table of each therapy showed that the effect-initiating time of the TCM three-step analgesic therapy was later

but the analgesic effect was better and the effective time was longer than that of the WHO three-step analgesic therapy. Of it

the PID value of those patients treated by electro-acupuncture was significantly increased and remained for a longer time too

meaning that the combination of acupuncture and medication could effectively control the severe cancer pain. In the PR table

the effect of TCM three-step analgesic therapy reached to its peak of middle pain relief rate was a slower but remained longer. Both TPR and TAS tables indicated that the TCM three-step analgesic therapy was superior to WHO three-step analgesic therapy. In comparison

the adverse reaction of the former was less and mild than that of the latter. Conclusion The effect of TCM three-step analgesic therapy is better than that of the WHO three-step analgesic therapy to a certain degree and in some time points

moreover

it is a safe treatment.