Abstract: Objective: To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with Taohong Siwu tang for rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods: A total of 96 cases of RA patients were divided into the control group and the observation group according to the random number table method,48 cases in each group. The control group was treated with methotrexate tablets combined with hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets, and the observation group was additionally treated with acupuncture and Taohong Siwu tang based on the treatment of the control group. Both groups were treated for three months. Before and after treatment, the degree of the joint pain and sleep quality in the two groups were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) respectively;the changes in the levels of rheumatoid factors (RF), hypersensitive C- reactive protein(hs- CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) and symptom scores in the two groups were observed. The clinical effect in the two groups was compared. Results:After treatment,the scores of VAS and PSQI in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). After treatment,the levels of RF,hs-CRP and ESR in serum in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment,differences being significant(P< 0.05);the above levels in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group,but there was no significance in the difference(P>0.05). After treatment, the scores of morning stiffness, retarded flexion and extension of the joints, joint pain,joint swelling and the total scores in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the above scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). The total effective rate was 83.3% in the observation group, higher than that of 64.6% in the control group, the difference being significant(P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture combined with Taohong Siwu tang for RA can effectively relieve the symptoms such as joint pain and swelling and improve the sleep status and clinical effect.