To compare the curative effect of “Dredging Channels and Eliminating Turbid” acupuncture and colchicine on acute gouty arthritis.Methods:Forty male rats were randomly divided into blank group (without modeling), model group (modeling without treatment), western medicine group (given colchicine orally) and acupuncture group.The rat models were made by injecting micro-crystal-sodium-urate suspension on knee joint cavity of hind limbs.Then to detect the content of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)in serum.Results: 1) The TNF-α level disparity among blank group and model group are significant(P<0.05), which indicates the success of modeling.2) TNF-α levels in the western medicine group differs significantly from that of the blank group(P<0.05), indicating the curative effect of colchicine.3) TNF-α levels of the acupuncture group has significant difference with that of the western medicine group(P<0.05), as a sign that the performance of acupuncture superior to that of colchicine.Conclusion: “Dredging Channels and Eliminating Turbid” acupuncture can decrease the level of TNF-α in rats with acute gouty arthritis.