OBJECTIVE:To study the clinical curative effect,safety and mechanism of action of electroacupuncture combined with Zhizhukuanzhong capsules(ZZKZC) in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD).METHODS:A total of 480 patients with confirmed GERD were randomly divided into four groups:the electroacupuncture group,the ZZKZC group,the combined therapy group,and the control group,with 120 cases in each group.Each case in the electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture on Zusanli(ST36),Zhongwan(CV12),Neiguan(PC6),Taichong(LR3)and Gongsun(SP 4)once daily for 6 weeks.Each case in the ZZKZC group was treated with oral administration of 1.29 g ZZKZC three times daily.The combined therapy group had electroacupuncture and ZZKZC.The control group was given oral administration of 5 mg mosapride three times and 20 mg pantoprazole twice daily.The 24-hour intraesophageal total number of reflux episodes with pH 0.05);however,these indices all significantly deteriorated in the ZZKZC and control groups(P>0.05).The short and long-term total efficacy rates in the combined therapy group showed significant superiority to those in the other groups(P