Abstract: [Objective] To study the clinical effects of self-made Jianpi Qingre Shugan Huayu Recipe in treating refractory ulcerative colitis.[Methods] Eighty-four patients were randomly divided into 2 groups and treated by western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine for 8 weeks respectively. Symptoms, clinical comprehensive therapeutic effect and intestinal mucosal lesion were determined before treatment, 1 week, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the treatment. SF-36 was determined before treatment and after 8 weeks' treatment. Evaluation of long-term effect was implemented 4 weeks after drug withdrawal.[Results] There were significant differences between the two groups in pus and blood stool and tenesmus symptoms after 8 weeks treatment (P<0.05). There were also significant differences in each group compared with before treatment and after 8 weeks' treatment (P<0.01). The differences were statistically significant when comparing the single symptom score and overall symptom scores between the two groups after 8 weeks treatment (P<0.05). The same results were found in each group when comparing the single symptom score and overall symptom scores before and after the treatment. There was significant difference between the two groups in the clinical comprehensive therapeutic effects after 8 weeks' treatment (P<0.05). Colonoscopy results after 8 weeks treatment showed obviously better outcome in traditional Chinese medicine group than western medicine group (P<0.05). When comparing the SF-36, traditional Chinese medicine had better effects than western medicine in improving BP, VT, SF and MH (P<0.05). There was significant difference between the two groups in the long-term effects, with lower relapse rate or less severity after 4 weeks drugwithdrawl in traditional Chinese medicine group than the western medicine group (P<0.01).[Conclusion] Traditional Chinese medicine was better than western medicine in improving clinlcal symptoms, the quality of life and achieving the steady situation of disease treatment.