OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect differences between electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with blood-letting plus cupping and western medicine therapy. METHODS: Fifty-three cases were randomly divided into an observation group (n=31) and a control group (n=22). The observation group was treated by electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with blood-letting with a plum-blossom needle at the affected parts plus cupping, once each day. The control group was treated by oral administration of Valaciclovir Hydrochlordide, Indomethacin, Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B12. RESULTS: The cured and markedly effective rate of 96.8% in the observation group was better than that of 81.8% in the control group (P<0.05), and improvements of pain, pruritus, burning sensation and sleep in the observation group were superior to those of the control group (all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with blood-letting and cupping is a better therapy for herpes zoster and its therapeutic effect is better than that of routine western medicine therapy.