Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of the Miao nation traditional medicine Jinwu Jiangu Decoction （Decoction composed of Rhizoma Cibotii and Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii for strengthening bones） on rheumatoid arthritis （RA） with methotrexate resistance.Methods Forty-six RA patients with methotrexate resistance were randomized into a treatment group （24 cases） and a control group （22 cases）. The treatment group was treated with Jinwu Jiangu Decoction and methotrexate. The treatment continued for 8 weeks. The control group was treated only with methotrexate. The clinical symptoms and signs and the improvement of inflammatory indices were observed

and the effect was evaluated two months later.Results In the treatment group

the clinical control and obvious effective rate was 54.17% and the total effective rate was 66.67%

while in the control group

the clinical control and obvious effective rate was 18.18% and the total effective rate was 27.73%

the difference between was significant （P<0.01）. In relieving the joint swelling and pain

improving the joint functions

and decreasing the inflammatory indices

the treatment group was superior to the control group （P<0.05 or P<0.01）. There was no significant difference in VAS between groups after treatment.Conclusion The Miao nation traditional medicine Jinwu Jiangu Decoction can significantly improve the effect of RA patients with methotrexate resistance.