AIM To investigate the effects of Xiangbin prescription (XBP), a Chinese herbal concoction, on gastrointestinal motility. METHODS Forty healthy volunteers were recruited for this randomized controlled trial of XBP. Antroduodenojejunal manometry was used to monitor gastrointestinal motility in these subjects. After the subjects had fasted for at least 12 h, XBP (n = 30) or placebo (n = 10) was orally administrated and gastrointestinal motility was recorded for 4 h. Plasma motilin and ghrelin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Oral administration of XBP significantly increased the amplitude of duodenal contractions [19.5 (13.0-26.7) vs 16.9 (12.3-23.9), P < 0.05], jejunal contractions [18.3 (15.3-25.0) vs 15.4 (11.7-23.9), P < 0.01], and the motility index of duodenal contractions [522.0 (146.0-139.0) vs 281.0 (76.5-1006.0), P < 0.01] in phase. of the migratory motor complex (MMC), which subsequently initiated the MMC cycle [74.0 (30.0-118.0) vs 116.5 (24.0-219.0), P < 0.05], shortened the duration of phase I of the MMC [42.0 (0.0-90.0) vs 111.5 (42.0-171.0), P < 0.01], and lengthened the duration of phase. of the MMC [120 (21-240) vs 58 (16-170), P < 0.01] compared to the duration before XBP administration. There were significant differences in the amplitude of jejunal contractions [19.8 (14.0-30.0) vs 18.0 (13.0-28.5), P < 0.05], the motility index of duodenal contractions [236.0 (115.0-306.0) vs 195.0 (109.0-310.0), P < 0.05)], and jejunal contractions [214.0 (95.0-403.0) vs 178.0(55.0-304.0), P < 0.01] in phase. of the MMC. Oral administration of XBP greatly increased plasma motilin (57.69 +/- 9.03 vs 49.38 +/- 8.63, P < 0.01) and ghrelin (279.20 +/- 104.31 vs 238.73 +/- 115.59, P < 0.01) concentrations compared to concentrations after oral administration of the placebo. CONCLUSION XBP can stimulate duodenal and jejunal motility and increase the concentrations of plasma motilin and ghrelin. The clinical applicability of XBP in treating GDIM deserves investigation.