OBJECTIVE: To explore factors of the patient with lumbago seeking for acupuncture treatment and to observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at early days. METHODS: The factors of the patient with lumbago seeking for acupuncture treatment were investigated by questionnaire in 45 cases of lumbago. The patients enrolled were treated by acupuncture and moxibustion for 1-2 sessions with Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3) selected. Changes of pain, restlessness score and ODI before and after treatment were used for assessment of clinical therapeutic effect at early days. RESULTS: Recommendation (12 cases, 26.7%), believing Chinese medicine (10 cases, 22.2%), reputation of hospital (6 cases, 13.3%), public praise of doctors (5 cases, 11.1%) were main causes for the patient with lumbago seeking for acupuncture treatment. ODI, pain score and restlessness score were 11.0+/-7.3, 5.0+/-1.9, 4.8+/-2.1 after treatment and 12.6+/-7.7, 6.5+/-1.8, 6.7+/-2.1 before treatment, respectively, with significant differences before and after treatment (all P < 0.05). The assessment help score before and after treatment were 7.1+/-1.5 and 7.2+/-2.3, respectively, with no significant difference before and after treatment (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Good reputation of hospital and doctors, and good public praise of acupuncture and moxibustion are main external factors for the patient with lumbago seeking for acupuncture treatment, and the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on lumbago at early days is identical to the patient's expectation.