The invention relates to a traditional Chinese medicine for treating rheumatoid arthritis. The traditional Chinese medicine comprises the following herbs in parts by weight: 3 parts of rhizoma drynariae, 5 parts of rhizoma dioscoreae hypoglaucae, 2 parts of smilax china, 15 parts of sargentodoxa cuneata stems, 25 parts of longhairy antenoron herb, 9 parts of andrographis paniculata, 9 parts of alisma orientalis, 12 parts of herba lycopi, 3 parts of flower of albizia julibrissin durazz, 1.5 parts of hedyotis diffusa willd, 3 parts of canavalia gladiate seeds, 1 part of violet magnolia, 25 parts of sarcandra glabra, 4 parts of red rice, 1 part of loose knot, 7 parts of rhaponticum uniflorum root, 1 part of dentiferous dendropanax root, 6 parts of radix stephaniae tetrandra, 3 parts of carica papaya, 2 parts of fructus leonuri, 5 parts of loofah sponge, 8 parts of polygonum bistorta, 2 parts of kaempferia galanga rhizome, 3 parts of kerria japonica flower, 6 parts of deerhorn gelatin, 1 part of aspidistra elatior blume root, 1 part of polygala aureocauda dunn, 4 parts of smilax ferox wall, 1 part of Chinese alangium root, and 7 parts of verbena officinalis. Clinical trials show that the traditional Chinese medicine can safely and efficiently treat rheumatoid arthritis.