Abstract： Objective To discuss the effect of traditional Chinese medicine in treating postoperative lymphedema of upper limb in patients with breast cancer.Methods Totally 72 patients with invasive ductal breast cancer who had postoperative lymphedema of upper limb after modified radical mastectomy from Marth 2007 to December 2011 were randomly divided into observation group (37 cases) and control group (35 cases).All the patients were given conventional treatment;observation group was additional given Channel-dredging decoction and attacking-hardness decoction modified formula (1 dose/d,morning and evening twice,7 days as a course).The treatment lasted for 2 courses.Results After 2 courses of treatment,there were 9 excellent effective cases,23 effective cases and 5 ineffective 5 cases in observation group,there were 1 excellent effective case,25 effective cases and 29 ineffective 5 cases in control group.The effective rate in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group[86.5％ (32/37) vs 17.1％ (6/35)] (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Channel-dredging decoction and attacking-hardness decoction modified formula can effectly decrease the degree of upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery.