Objective: To investigate the mechanism of gastrointestinal motility disorders in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and the related effects of Qingyi decoction administration. Methods: Forty-eight SD rats were randomized into sham operation group, SAP model group (model group) and SAP model with Qingyi decoction treatment group (Qingyi decoction treatment group). The SAP model was created by multi-point uniform injection of 5% sodium taurocholate beneath the pancreatic capsule, and rats in Qingyi decoction treatment group were given Qingyi decoction by gavage, while rats in sham operation group and model group were treated with normal saline of the same volume instead. Twenty-four hours after operation, the interdigestive myoelectric complex (IMC) of the gastric antrum of rats was recorded by using bipolar silver electrodes, the serum concentration of motilin (MTL) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were measureed by ELISA assay, and the pathological observation and scoring of the pancreatic tissues were performed. Results: Compared with sham operation group, both model group and Qingyi decoction treatment group presented with decreased MTL level and increased VIP level (all P<0.05), but the degrees of MTL reduction and VIP elevation in Qingyi decoction treatment group were lower than those in model group, and the pathological score of Qingyi decoction treatment group was also lower than that of model group (all P<0.05). The time periods of IMC cycle and phase I and II were prolonged but those of IMC phase III were shortened, and the amplitude and frequency of phase III peak potential in both model group and Qingyi decotion treatment group decreased in comparison with sham operation group (all P<0.05), but all these IMC indices in Qingyi decoction treatment group altered less than those in model group (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the IMC phase III time in SAP rat was positively correlated with MTL concentration (r=0.967, P<0.05), while negatively correlated with VIP concentration and pathological scores of the pancreatic tissue (r=–0.592, P<0.05; r=–0.736, P<0.05). Conclusion: Gastrointestinal motility disorders in SAP is associated with abnormal function of the gastrointestinal hormones, and the improving effect on gastrointestinal motility of Qingyi decoction is probably attributable to its regulation of the levels of gastrointestinal hormones.