To clarify the role of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in sodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced knee osteoarthritis model in rats, and to explore the effect of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction on M1 macrophage/M2 macrophage polarization, 40 KOA rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group, model group, positive drug group and Duhuo Jisheng Decoction group. The KOA rats were induced by intraarticular injection of MIA. The morphological changes of articular cartilage and the degree of injury were observed using HE staining and Mankin scoring method. Compared with the model group, the Duhuo Jisheng Decoction group and the positive drug group had slight changes in the cell structure of rat cartilage tissue, significantly improved Mankin scores, significantly increased expression of IL-10 in rat serum (P<0.01, P<0.05), and significantly decreased expression of TNF-α (P<0.01). Duhuo Jisheng Decoction can significantly delay the development of knee osteoarthritis in rats, and its mechanism is related to the regulation of M1/M2 macrophage polarization.