Objective To evaluate the effect of stage sequential treatment of Chinese medicine on mild to moderate ulcerative colitis（UC）.Methods A multi-central

randomized-controlled

and non-inferiority designed study was carried out.Totally 239 patients from four clinical centers with mild to moderate UC were randomized into study group and control group.The study group received the stage sequential treatment of Chinese medicine

i.e.

the decoction of Qingchang Huashi Recipe（Recipe for clearing intestine and dissolving damp）for oral taking

the decoction of Guanchang Recipe（Recipe for enema）for enema

and thedecoction of Qingchang Recipe（Recipe for clearing intestine）for oral taking.The control group received mesalazine enteric coated tablets for oral taking.The course of treatment was of 24 weeks.The symptom scores of before treatment and 2

4

8

12

16

20

24 weeks after treatment were recorded to compare the changes of two groups for evaluating the clinical effect.Results Of the 239 patients

204 cases were up to the treatment plan

111in the study group and 93 in the control group.At the end of the treatment

the total effective rate of the study group was 87.4%

while that of the control group was 84.9%

indicating that the former was not inferior to the latter（P<0.05）.In the comparison of difference of symptom scores between the two groups

the improvement in the total symptom score of the 8th week in the study group was better than that of the control group（P<0.01）

and the improvement in the abdominal distention and abdominal pain of the 4th and 8th weeks in the study group was better than that of the control group respectively（P<0.05）.Conclusion Stage sequential treatment of Chinese medicine could remarkably improve symptoms of mild to moderate UC patients

and could quickly induce symptom relief

especially the earlier improvement of abdominal distention and abdominal pain.