Objective To observe the effectiveness of electroacupuncture(EA)therapy in promoting medicinal abortion.Methods Sixty participants with early pregnancy were randomly divided into medication(control)and EA+medication groups(n=30 in each).Participants in the control group were treated by regular medication(mifepristone and misoprostol tablets)

and those of the EA group were treated by EA stimulation(2 Hz/100 Hz

a tolerable strength)of bilateral Hegu(LI 4)and Sanyinjiao(SP 6)for 25 min

and also by the same medication method mentioned in the control group.Participants of both groups were admitted to the hospital for observation on the 3 rd day after taking medication.The abdominal pain was assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS)score

and the foetal sac discharge duration and the complete abortion rate were recorded.Results After the treatment

the VAS scores of both groups were significantly reduced in comparison with their own pre-treatment in each group(P<0.01)

and the VAS score of the EA+medication group was significantly lower than that of the medication group(P<0.01).The foetal sac discharge duration was significantly shorter in the EA+medication group than in the medication group(P<0.01).The abortion rates showed no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion EA stimulation of Hegu(LI 4)and Sanyinjiao(SP 6)has a positive effect in assisting medicinal abortion in reducing abdominal pain and shortening foetal sac discharge duration.