<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the transdermal behavior of Xiaozheng Zhitong cataplasm in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>With tetrahydropalmatine as the index, the Franz diffusioncellmethod was adopted for the experiment. Sample content was determined with HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The transdermal permeability and the transmission rate of tetrahydropalmatine accumulated for 24 h were 20.20% and 0.744 1 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The transdermal behaviors of Xiaozheng Zhitong cataplasm were ideal in conformity with the zero order kinetic model.</p>