Objective To observe the effect of forearm skin acupuncture combined with herbs in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome of diarrhea type. Methods Patients with irritable bowel syndrome of diarrhea type were randomized into a treatment group（ 102 cases） and a control group（ 105 cases）. The treatment group was treated with forearm skin acupuncture combined with oral self-designed decoction. The control group was given pinaverium bromide tablet orally. Both groups were treated for one month. The clinical effect in both groups was evaluated. The scores of cardinal symptom and minor symptom were calculated before and after treatment. Results There were 25 cases cured

37 cases markedly effective

34 cases effective

and 6 cases invalid in the treatment group

with the total effective rate of 94. 12%. In the control group

there were 20 cases cured

29 cases markedly effective

30 cases effective

and 26 cases invalid

with the total effective rate of 75. 24%. The treatment group was superior to the control group（ P < 0. 05）. In the treatment group

diarrhea frequency

degree of abdominal pain

degree of abdominal distension

diet situation and sleep quality scores were improved after treatment than those before treatment（ P <0. 05）. In the control group

there was no significant difference in diet situation and sleep quality scores between before and after treatment（ P > 0. 05）

but other symptom scores were lower after treatment（ P < 0. 05）. After treatment

diarrhea frequency

diet situation and sleep quality scores in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group（ P < 0. 05）. Conclusion In the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome of diarrhea type

forearm skin acupuncture combined with herbs could improve patients’ degree of abdominal pain

degree of abdominal distension

diarrhea frequency

sleep quality and diet situation. Its effect might be superior to pinaverium bromide tablet.