Objective: To explore the prescription rules of modern Chinese medicine for external use in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis by collecting the prescriptions in literature on external herbal medicines for ankylosing spondylitise

so as to provide reference for clinical medication. Method: Through the search of Chinese Academic Journal(CNKI) and Wanfang academic periodical full-text database from January 2004 to 2015 March

to collect

reorganize

summarize and the analyze the domestic clinical literature on relevant external application of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for treating ankylosing spondylitis

and explore the prescription rules of modern clinical Chinese medicine for external use in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis by frequency analysis method. Result: In a total of 62 effective references

external Chinese medicine treatment for ankylosing spondylitis was mainly from the functions of expelling wind and removing dampness

activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis

dispelling cold and relieving pain

as well as nourishing the liver and kidney. The herbal properties of TCM were mainly warm and flat

flavor was mainly pungent and bitter

the meridian was mainly for liver

spleen and kidney. Conclusion: External TCM treatment has significant advantages on local efficacy and broad prospects for development compared with internal treatment. Though preliminary exploration on prescription rules of external Chinese medicine treatment for ankylosing spondylitis

we are expecting to find a more effective treatment method for ankylosing spondylitis and provide reference for clinical medicine.