Objective To study the therapeutic effect of stroke unit combined with acupuncture on dysphygia in stroke patients. Methods A total of 244 patients were randomized into three groups: the stroke unit (SU) group (82 cases), the SU combined with acupunture group (82 cases), and the control group (80 cases). All the three groups were treated with routine medication as a basic treatment. Patients in the SU group received standard combined therapy of stroke unit. Those in the SU combined with acupunture group were given the stroke unit therapy and a standardized comprehensive acupuncture treatment at the same time. After four weeks of treatment, the effect was evaluated according to the swallowing test in the three groups. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) and Barthel Index(BI) were used after treatment. Results The total effective rate of swallowing test was 74.39% in the SU group and 87.80% in the SU combined with acupunture group, significantly higher than 62.5% in the control group (P<0.01).The total effective rate in the SU combined with acupunture was significantly higher than that in the SU group (P<0.05). NIHSS score in the in the SU combined with acupunture group and the SU group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01), but BI score was significantly higher (P<0.01). The scores in the SU combined with acupunture were significantly higher than those in the SU group (P<0.05). Conclusions Stroke unit treatment can significantly improve dysphagia in stroke patients. Stroke unit combined with acupuncture treatment can further improve the theapeutic effect.