Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with swallowing rehabilitation therapy in patients with dysphagia due to pseudobulbar palsy after stroke. Methods Eighty patients with dysphagia due to pseudobulbar palsy after stroke were randomized into treatment group and control group

with 40 cases in each group. The control group received basic treatment plus swallowing rehabilitation

based on which the treatment group was also given acupuncture. For acupuncture

bilateral Wangu（ GB12）

Fengchi（ GB20）

Yifeng（ SJ17）

Lianquan（ RN23） and pharyngeal posterior wall points were selected. During the first course（ 10 times）

the acupuncture was applied once a day

and after one-week interval

the acupuncture was applied once every other day as the second course（ 10 times）. Royal Brisbane Hospital Outcome Measure for Swallowing（ RBHOMS） and food property and drink viscosity score were assessed before treatment

after the first and the second course and in the follow-up（ 3months after two-course treatment）. During the study period

the complications

body mass index（ BMI） and deaths were also observed. Results For the treatment group

after the first and the second course and in the follow-up

the RBHOMS were higher than that before treatment; the food property score（ after the second course and in the follow-up） and the drink viscosity score were lower significantly（ P < 0. 01）. In the follow-up

the RBHOMS in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group

and the food property score and the drink viscosity score were significantly lower（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. After the second course

BMI in the treatment group was lower than that before treatment

while in the control group

the BMI after the second course and in the follow-up were both lower than that before treatment（ P < 0. 05）. There was no significant difference of the incidence rate of aspiration pneumonia and mortality rate between the two groups. Conclusion The acupuncture combined with swallowing rehabilitation therapy seems effective for rehabilitation of dysphagia due to pseudobulbar palsy after stroke

and its long-term effect seems better than swallowing rehabilitation therapy alone.