Objective To investigate the therapeutic rule of electroacupuncture(EA)in treating functional constipation.Methods Eighty-eight patients with severe chronic functional constipation were randomized divided into EA(n=45)and shamEA(n=43)groups.Patients in the EA group were treated with EA at bilateral Tianshu(ST 25)

Fujie(SP 14)

Shangjuxu(ST 37)

and those in the sham-EA group were received superficial acupuncture at 1 cunlateral to the identical acupoints without electrical current delivery.The number of patients with complete spontaneous bowel movements(CSBM)was weekly compared between the EA and sham-EA groups at baseline week

during 8weeks' treatment

as well as the follow-up 4th

8th and 12 th weeks after treatment.The Bristol Stool Chart(BSC)and defecation difficulty scores were also weekly compared from baseline until 8weeks.Results The CSBM showed significant differences from 3to 8weeks and at 4th

8th and 12 th weeks post-treatment(P<0.05)

but not within the first two weeks between the EA and sham-EA groups.The number of patients who had more than 3times of CSBM per week was increased in the EA group(P<0.05).The therapeutic effect of EA group was superior to that of the sham-EA group in improving BSC over the 4th and 5th weeks(P<0.05).The defecation difficulty score was improved in the EA group than in the sham-EA group since the4 th week(P<0.05).Conclusion EA shows therapeutic effect for functional constipation by improving CSBM and BSC.