Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling plus Chinese medicinal fumigation in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) due to cold-dampness.Method Fifty-three patients with RA due to cold-dampness were randomized into a treatment group of 27 cases and a control group of 26 cases. The control group was intervened by conventional medication, while the treatment group was by warm needling plus Chinese medicinal fumigation in addition to the medication used in the control group. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), joint symptom parameters, Score of Quantified Syndrome of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed before and after treatment, and the effective rate was evaluated by using the criteria stipulated by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR20).Result The VAS scores, joint symptom parameters, scores of quantified syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine, and HAQ were significantly changed after treatment in both groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS score, joint swelling score, painful joint count, morning stiff duration, Score of Quantified Syndrome of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and HAQ in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). The ESR and CRP levels were markedly changed after treatment in both groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the ESR and CRP levels in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 74.1% in the treatment group versus 57.7% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Warm needling plus Chinese medicinal fumigation is an effective method in treating RA due to cold-dampness.