The aim was to investigate alterations of intestinal motility in models of acute pancreatitis and to investigate the effects of the Chinese herbal preparation Qing Yi Tang (QYT) on these alterations. Upper gastrointestinal transit was evaluated in mice following induction of mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) using caerulein. Myoelectrical activity was recorded in rats after induction of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) using sodium deoxycholate (SDOC). The contractility of jejunum segments was evaluated in the presence of SDOC, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and trypsin. QYT accelerated the transit in MAP mice in a concentration dependent manner. Slow wave activity of smooth muscle in rat stomach and jejunum remained unchanged following SAP, but the spiking activity was significantly decreased, with bursts of 7.2 +/- 2.6/10 min compared with 47.9 +/- 13.2/10 min without SAP (p < 0.01). QYT reversed this decrease. Additionally, the amplitudes of slow waves and spikes were enhanced by QYT in SAP rats. The tension and amplitude of spontaneous contractile activity was reduced by SDOC and LPS and increased by trypsin. Gastrointestinal (GI) transit is altered by SAP but not by MAP. The Chinese herbal preparation QYT improves disturbed motility in AP by stimulating myoelectrical activity and accelerating GI transit.