Abstract： Objective： To observe the curative effect of Xuanbai Chengqi tang for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and its effect on the levels of tumor necrosis factor- α(TNF- α)，interleukin- 1β(IL- 1β) and interleukin- 10(IL- 10) in patients. Methods：A total of 62 cases of ARDS patients were selected and divided into the control group and the observation group according to the random number table method，31 cases in each group. The control group was given basic treatment and the observation group was additionally given Xuanbai Chengqi tang based on the treatment of the control group. The inflammatory factors and lung function indexes before and after treatment as well as the clinical effect in the two groups were compared. Duration of mechanical ventilation，intensive care unit(ICU) staying time and hospitalization time in the two groups were recorded. Results： The total effective rate was 93.55% in the observation group， higher than that of 67.74% in the control group，the difference being significant(P＜0.05). Before treatment，there was no significant difference being found in the comparison of the levels of TNF- α，IL-1β and IL-10 between the two groups(P＞0.05). After treatment，the levels of TNF- α and IL- 1β in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment， and the levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05)；the levels of IL-10 in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment，and the level in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05). Before treatment， there was no significant difference being found in the comparison of lung function indexes between the two groups(P＞0.05). After treatment， vital capacity(VC)， forced expiratory volume in the first second(FEV1)/ forced expiratory vital capacity(FVC) and oxygenation indexes(PaO2/FiO2) in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment， and various indexes of lung function in the observation group were higher than those in the control group， differences being significant(P＜0.05). Duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU staying time in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group(P＜0.05). Conclusion： Xuanbai Chengqi tang for ARDS can improve the clinical effect and the lung function of patients，reduce the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β，and increase the level of IL-10.