The rat model poisoned by lead acetate was treated with either EDTA or a traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） with the ability of "relieving toxin and strengthening spleen". In EDTA group

lead contents in blood fell to normal; the other parameters apparently improved but did not return to normal （p<0.05）; and the contents of essential trace elements in urine increased while lead was expelled （p<0.05）. But in TCM group

all the parameters returned to normal （p>0.05） and the contents of essential trace elements in urine did not obviously change （p>0.05）. The curative effect of TCM is therefore better than that of EDTA. The mechanism probably lies in the following points: （1） TCM can expedite excretion of lead in feces and decrease the lead accumulation in liver; （2） FEP returns to normal

showing that the lead expelling effect of TCM is relatively complete; （3） TCM does not disturb the interior equilibrium of essential trace elements while expelling lead.