Objective:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with Ziyin Runtong tang for senile functional constipation with yin deficiency and intestinal dryness syndrome.Methods:Selected 80 cases of patients with senile functional constipation with yin deficiency and intestinal dryness syndrome and divided them into the control group and the treatment group according to random number table method,40 cases in each group.The control group received oral phenolphthalein tablets for treatment,while the treatment group received acupuncture combined with oral administration of Ziyin Runtong tang.Results:The total effective rate was 95.00%in the treatment group and was 72.50%in the control group,the difference being significant(P < 0.05).After treatment,times of weekly defecation in both groups were increased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05).Scores of fecal character and difficulty degree of defecation in both groups were reduced when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05).Times of weekly defecation in the treatment group were more than those in the control group(P<0.05).Scores of fecal character and difficulty degree of defecation in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group(P < 0.05).Before treatment,no significant difference was found in the comparisons of scores of abdominal pain,abdominal distension and a sense of incomplete evacuation between the two groups(P > 0.05).After treatment,scores of abdominal pain,abdominal distension and a sense of incomplete evacuation in both groups were all reduced when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05).The above three scores in the treatment group were all lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The therapy of acupuncture combined with Ziyin Runtong tang for senile functional constipation with yin deficiency and intestinal dryness syndrome can effectively improve symptoms of patients,and its effect is superior to that of oral phenolphthalein tablets.