Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Shengdi Hongteng Decoction formulated by Shen Pian (a famous veteran teran doctor of TCM) in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis. Methods60 patients with acute gouty arthritis were randomly assigned into treatment group and control group, 30 patients in each group. The control group was given Celebrex capsules, and the treatment group was administered Celebrex capsules and Shengdi Hongteng Decoction. The two groups were treated for 1 week. Clinical efficacy was observed. Improvement in pain and swelling of joints, and changes in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum uric acid (UA) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) were compared.  Results:The total effective rate was 90.0% and 76.7% in the treatment group and the control group, respectively. The clinical efficacy in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.05). VAS and swelling scores decreased in both groups after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, VAS and swelling scores were lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the levels of ESR, CRP, UA, IL-1β and TNF-α in the two groups before and after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, there were significant differences in the levels of ESR, CRP, UA, IL-1β and TNF-α between the treatment group and the control group (P<0.05).  Conclusion:Shengdi Hongteng Decoction has good analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on gouty arthritis, and lowers the level of uric acid in serum.