ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture analgesia after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TEP), aiming to reduce the use of analgesics post-surgery. MethodsPatients who underwent unilateral TEP in the Department of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery at our hospital from May 2022 to May 2023 were selected as research subjects. Those who met the inclusion and exclusion criterias were randomly assigned to three groups: TCM acupuncture analgesia group, traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture analgesia plus western medicine analgesia group (referred to as Chinese and western medicine analgesia group), and western medicine analgesia group. The basic information, postoperative numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores, postoperative recovery indicators, and complication rates of the three groups were analyzed and compared.ResultsThere was no statistically significant differences in the basic data of patients across the three groups (P>0.05). There were significant differences in NRS score, recovery time of intestinal function, first urination time after operation and first ambulation time after operation at each time point after analgesia (6 h, the next morning, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h after operation) among the three groups (P<0.05). The NRS scores in both the TCM acupuncture analgesia group and the Chinese and western medicine analgesia group were lower than those in the western medicine analgesia group (P<0.05), Additionally, postoperative recovery outcomes were better in the TCM acupuncture analgesia group and the Chinese and western medicine analgesia group compared with the western medicine group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference of the above results compared between the TCM acupuncture analgesia group and the Chinese and western medicine analgesia group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications among the three groups (P>0.05). ConclusionTCM acupuncture analgesia following TEP surgery is effective and leads to improved postoperative recovery compared with the use of oral analgesics alone, without an increase in adverse reactions.