Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs in treating reflux esophagitis with syndrome of heat stagnation in liver and stomach. Methods Ninety two cases of reflux esophagitis patients were randomly divided into acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs group and western medicine group

with 46 cases in each group. The combined acupuncture and medicine group was given the combination of acupuncture and medicine [Modified Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction（ 旋覆代赭汤） combined with Zuojin Wan（ 左金丸）

1 dose daily

decocted with water]. The western medicine group was given Omeprazole Enteric-coated Capsules

taken orally（ 20 mg each time

twice a day

taken before breakfast and dinner） and Mosapride Citrate Dispersible Tablets（ 5mg each time

three times a day

taken orally before meals）. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks continuously. Reflux disease questionnaire（ RDQ） score

endoscopic score and safety indicators before and after treatment in the two groups were compared and the clinic effects were compared after treatment. Recurrence rate of 6months after treatment in the two groups was compared. Results RDQ score and endoscopic score in both groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment（ P < 0. 01）. RDQ score and endoscopic score in combined acupuncture and medicine group were significantly lower than those in western medicine group（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. The total effective rate in combined acupuncture and medicine group（ 95. 7%） was higher than that in western medicine group（ 82. 6%）（ P < 0. 05）. Recurrence rate of 6 months after treatment in western medicine group（ 84. 2%） was higher than that in combined acupuncture and medicine group（ 34. 1%）（ P < 0. 01）. The combined acupuncture and medicine group had no obvious adverse reactions. In the western medicine group

there were 2 dizziness cases and 3 abdominal pain cases

but they were relieved after expectant treatment. Conclusion Combination of acupuncture and medicine seems to have obvious curative effect

low recurrence rate and few adverse reactions in the treatment of reflux esophagitis.