Objective To observe the effect and of Simiao Pills （Pills of four miracles） combined with western medicine for rheumatoid arthritis （RA） in active sta ge.Methods Forty RA patients in active stage were rand omized into two groups with 20 in each.The control group was orally administered methotrexate and votalin

and the treatment group was given Chinese medicine Simiao Pills addi tionally for 3 months in succession.The changes in clinical symptoms and signs

erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR）

C-reactive protein （CRP）

and rheumatoid factor （RF）

as well as hemorheology indexes were observed after treatment.Results In the treatment group

the total effective rate was 95%

which was superior to 75 % in the control group （P<0.05）.Symptoms and signs

ESR

CRP

RF and hemorheology indexes of both groups were all improved after treatment （P<0.05）

the differe nce between the two groups after treatment was statistically significant （P<0.05 ）.Conclusion Simiao Pills is effective for active RA

and the effect was superior to methothexate.