Objective: Herbal formula

as the basic therapeutic form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice

is used under the guidance of syndrome (also called pattern or Zheng) differentiation based on TCM holistic view. Understanding the principle of herbal formulae is not only one of great dilemmas in current studies but also one of highlight on TCM. Based on previous omics methods and in silicon techniques

network pharmacology was used to explore TCM pharmacology

compounds combination

herbal property and efficacy

and so on. In present review

we outlined some proper strategies to construct TCM cold or hot syndrome related rheumatoid arthritis disease network

to set herbal formulae related biological targets network

to verify the TCM syndrome based rheumatoid arthritis disease network

and further to clarify the basis of material and the principle of herbal formulae. Hopefully

the novel paradigm and applications in the review could provide reference for the coming TCM network pharmacology.