The study was based on a review of clinical trials for herbal drugs published in various journals. Three journals selected were Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine (JITWM), Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (JTCM), and a provincial Journal of Traditional Medicine (JTM). In order to reflect different levels of the journal, each paper of the clinical trials of herbal drugs in the above-mentioned journals during the survey years, 1991, 1987 and 1980 (or 1981) was reviewed using a standard checklist and quantified through a score system. A total of 314 paper were reviewed, in which 179 in 1991, 82 in 1987, and 53 in 1980 and 1981. Controlled trials were found in 86% of JITWM, 40.8% of JTCM, and 26.8% of JTM in 1991. Although there was an increased trend in the use or randomized trials, it still showed a lower proportion, respectively 52.9% in JITWM, 36.0% in JTCM, and 11.1% in JTM. We found that the quality of clinical trials in JITWM was the first, JTCM the second, JTM the third and showed a gradually improved trend with time.