Objective:To observe the protective effiects of modified Qingying decoction on gastrointestinal functionon in elderly patients with sepsis. Methods 62 patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 31 in each group. Two groups were both treated with routine western medicine. Additionally treatment group was given modified Qingying decoction orally. Course of treatment for both groups was 7 days. The change of score of acute physiology and chronic health situation (APACHE II),the level of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)and procalcitonin (PCT),the intra-abdominal pressure(IAP), the gastrointestinal decompression amount, the pH of gastrointestinal mucosa(pHi) were observed. The opening time of gastrointestinal tract, the incidence of MODS and mortality within follow-up 28 days were recorded.  Results: ①Compared with the control group after treatment, the APACHE II score and the level of HO-1 and PCT in treatment group decreased more significantly(P<0.05). ②Compared with the control group after treatment, the IAP, the gastrointestinal decompression amount and the pHi in treatment group decreased more significantly(P<0.05). ③The difference of the opening time of gastrointestinal tract, the incidence of MODS,and mortality within follow-up 28 days between two groups was statistically significant. The prognosis of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group.  Conclusion: The modified Qingying decoction combined with conventional western medicine therapy could be used for elderly patients with sepsis,which suppress the inflammatory reaction and start the body gastrointestinal protection system so as to shorten the opening time of the gastrointestinal tract and reduce the incidence of MODS.