Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of Xiaozhang Lishui Powder（ 消胀利水散） external application combined with moxibustion on gastric cancer ascites with spleen and kidney yang deficiency syndrome

and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods A total of 80 patients with spleen-kidney yang deficiency and gastric cancer ascites were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group

with 40 cases in each group.The observation group used external application of Xiaozhang Lishui Powder with the navel as the center. At the same time

moxibustion at Shenque（ RN8）

Guanyuan（ RN4） and Yinlingquan（ SP9）（ bilateral）

Zhongwan（ RN12）were performed

once a day

for 5 consecutive days

rest for 2 days; The control group received peritoneal perfusion of cisplatin injection 40 mg each time

once a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The changes of abdominal circumference and quality of life（ KPS score） were observed before and after treatment. The concentration of interleukin-2（ IL-2） and the levels of NK cells and CD4+/CD8+in ascites were measured. The clinical efficacy and side effects were observed. The patient’s progression-free survival was recorded at 1 year of follow-up. Results The total effective rate was 86. 8% in the observation group and 56. 8% in the control group. The observation group was superior to the control group（ P < 0. 05）. The abdominal circumference of the 2 groups was decreased after treatment

and the difference before and after the treatment of the observation group was larger than that of the control group（ P <0. 05）. The KPS score of the observation group was increased than that before treatment. The IL-2 concentration in ascites and the levels of NK cells and CD4+/CD8+were also increased than those in the control group（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. The average progression-free survival of the observation group was（ 203. 3 ± 12. 9） days

and that of the control group was（ 159. 5 ± 12. 0） days. The difference between groups was statistically significant（ P < 0. 05）. The leukocytes in the observation group increased after treatment

and were higher than those in the control group（ P <0. 05）. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin

platelet

liver function and renal function between groups（ P > 0. 05）. Conclusion External application of Xiaozhang Lishui Powder combined with moxibustion can improve the clinical symptoms of patients of gastric cancer ascites with spleen and kidney yang deficiency

prolong survival

improve quality of life

and reduce blood toxicity and other adverse reactions. The action may be related to the regulation of immune function.