Forty-eight cases with benign gastric diseases were operated using acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan(PC 6) combined with epidural anesthesia of small dosage (group A

39 cases )

and simple epidural anesthesia of small dosage (group B

9 cases). The results show that the effect in the group A is better than that in the group B. Namely

the analgesia is stronger

the tractive reaction of internal organs is lighter

the abdominal rnuscles are tnore relaxed

the dosage of anesthetic is rnuch smaller and the physiological disturbance is less in the group A.