Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by erosion of joints and surrounding tissues, which has become a hot topic in clinical research. External treatment of RA is unique and has few gastrointestinal side effects. Some national minorities in China have abundant experience in external treatment of RA. To look for a better treatment method for this disease, the external treatment for RA on ethnic medicine was summarized in the domestic literatures in recent 20 years， which to provide a more effective method for RA treatment and promote the development of ethnic medicine.