The vitality of traditional Chinese medicine lies in its unique theoretical system.Generally，only theory can solve essential problems.The systematic theory of traditional Chinese medicine is an interdisciplinary subject of traditional Chinese medicine and systems science，and it is the theoretical basis for the research on systematic traditional Chinese medicine.Its purpose is to treat the human body as an organic and autonomous system that prevents and controls disease as a whole.Cerebral small vessel disease is a cerebrovascular disease that seriously endangers the health of middle-aged and elderly people.Its onset is insidious，and pathogenesis is complex; its treatment is relatively difficult，and there lacks an overall prevention and treatment mechanism.The disease has received increasing attention.This article analyzed the etiology，pathogenesis，treatment method and principle，and prescription of cerebral small vessel disease from the systematic theory of traditional Chinese medicine and explored the guiding significance of the systematic theory of traditional Chinese medicine on the whole-cycle differentiation and treatment and medication of cerebral small vessel disease，so as to provide clinical reference.