Objective To examine the short-term effects of Tongye Xiaoji Decoction（ 通噎消积方） combined with western medicine in treating advanced esophageal cancer. Methods Sixty-one advanced esophageal cancer patients were randomized into the treatment group（ 30 cases） and the control group（ 31 cases）. The treatment group was given Tongye Xiaoji Decoction and western medicine basic treatment. The control group was given only western medicine basic treatment. Each course lasted for 4 weeks and both groups were treated for 2 courses. Karnofsky performance status（ KPS）

quality of life（ QOL）

tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen（ CEA） and carbohydrate antigen（ CA19-9） and safety index of patients in both groups were observed before treatment

1 and 2 courses after treatment. The clinical effect was evaluated after treatment. Results After 1 and 2 courses of treatment

the scores of KPS and QOL in the treatment group increased. The levels of CEA and CA19-9 decreased（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. The improvement of QOL and CA19-9 after 2 courses of treatment was more remarkable than that after 1course of treatment（ P < 0. 05）. After 2 courses of treatment

the total effective rate in the treatment group and the control group was 56. 7% and 30. 0% respectively. The treatment group was superior to the control group（ P <0. 05）. Conclusion Tongye Xiaoji Decoction combined with western medicine might improve the clinical effect and improve patients’ KPS and QOL. The combination treatment was superior to western medicine alone.