To summarize the clinical experience of Prof. Yan Jun-bai in treating rheumatic arthritis (RA) with suppurative moxibustion and aim to guide acupuncture treatment for RA. Prof. Yan believes that contributing factors of RA include external contraction of pathogenic factors, obstructed flow of qi and blood, internal phlegm-turbidity (due to deficiency of healthy qi or improper diet), and obstruction or malnourishment of meridians. As a result, the treatment strategies are to warm yang, remove pathogenic factors, and tonify the liver, spleen and kidney. Suppurative moxibustion is a reliable therapy for RA.