Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction（ 独活寄生汤） combined with ointment massage in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis of wind-cold-damp Bi with liver-kidney deficiency syndrome. Methods A total of 70 patients of knee osteoarthritis of wind-cold-damp Bi with liver-kidney deficiency syndrome were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group

with 35 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with oral administration of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction（ 独活寄生汤）

one dose per day

and combined with ointment massage with Tongluo Quyu Ointment（ 通络祛瘀膏）

15 ～ 20 min each time

once a day. The control group was treated with oral administration of glucosamine hydrochloride capsules

0. 24 g each time

3 times a day. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks and followed up for 6 months. The clinical efficacy of the 2 groups of patients was observed after treatment. The changes of visual analog scale（ VAS） and the Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis（ WOMAC score） were observed before treatment

14 days and 28 days after treatment

and adverse reactions were observed. Results The total effective rate of the treatment group was 91. 4%（ 32/35）

which was better than 68. 6%（ 24/35） in the control group（ P < 0. 05）. On the14 th day

28 th day

and follow-up

the VAS and WOMAC scores of both groups were significantly decreased than those before treatment（ P < 0. 01）.After 28 days of treatment in both groups

the VAS score and WOMAC score were also reduced compared with those after 14 days of treatment within group（ P < 0. 05）; at the follow-up of the 2 groups

the VAS score increased

while the WOMAC score decreased compared with those of 14 days of treatment within group（ P < 0. 05）. The VAS score and WOMAC score were increased in both groups during follow-up compared with those of 28 days of treatment within group（ P < 0. 05）. Compared with the control group at the same time

the VAS score and WOMAC scores of the treatment group decreased 14 days

28 days after treatment and during follow-up（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. Conclusion Duhuo Jisheng Decoction（ 独活寄生汤） combined with ointment massage in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis of wind-cold-damp Bi with liver-kidney deficiency syndrome is effective

which can significantly alliviate the patient’s pain

improve the motor function and daily activity. The long-term efficacy of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction combined with ointment massage is supeior to glucosamine hydrochloride capsule.