To discover the therapy regularity and compatibility law of ancient herbs in the treatment of osteoarthritis, by means of ancient prose retrieval tools of ZhongHuaYiDian (Dictionary of TCM classics), we applied frequency, factor, cluster analysis to analyze all the herbs in the related literature from the Han Dynasty to articles in the Late Qing Dynasty. We found that the treatment principle was to reinforce the healthy qi and eliminate the pathogenic factors, reinforce the healthy qi, which includes tonifying qi and replenishing blood; eliminate the pathogenic factors including dispelling wind-dampness and cold, and at the same time also using other method of treatment, such as release the exterior, activate blood, drain dampness, regulate qi, and warm the interior. Achyranthes root, cinnamon, white peony root, aconite, radix saposhnikoviae, rhizomaligusticichuanxiong, glycyrrhiza and angelica sinensis are the main herbal medicines in the treatment of osteoarthritis.