To explore clinical medication characteristics of Chinese materia medica to treat diarrhea externally.Methods:Clinical research literature in CNKI was retrieved.The course of medication,medication time,frequency of medication,dosage form,excipient,dosage and administration methods in the literature were concluded.Clinical medication characteristics and rules,as well as adverse reactions in treating diarrhea externally by Chinese materia medica were summarized.Prescriptions of Chinese materia medica for external treatment of diarrhea in the clinical literature were recorded into Excel,and a database was established.Clementine 12.0 and Excel statistical software were used for data analysis.Results:Medicines in the clinically external treatment of diarrhea were Fructus Evodiae,Flos Caryophylli,Cortex Cinnamomi,Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae,Rhizoma Coptidis,etc.It was mainly composed of interior-warming medicines,deficiency-tonifying medicines and heat-clearing medicines.Commonly used medicine pairs were Cortex Cinnamomi-Flos Caryophylli,Fructus Evodiae-Flos Caryophylli,and so on.The administration methods included external application and enema.The frequency of medication ranged mainly 1 time/d-3 times /d.The medication time was mostly 0 ≤ n ≤ 1 h and 6 h < n ≤ 12 h.The course of medication was usually within 1 month,mainly 1-7 d.The excipients were mainly vinegar,wine and water.Conclusion:The results of the survey were statistically analyzed to provide theoretical support for standardization of the external use of Chinese materia medica,and improve clinical efficacy of external treatment in diarrhea.