Abstract: Ulcerative colitis(UC) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disease of the intestinal mucosa, characterized by a complex pathogenesis involving inflammation, immune imbalance, intestinal barrier damage, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Current anti-inflammatory-dominated therapies exhibit unsatisfactory efficacy, trigger numerous adverse reactions, and may lead to drug resistance with long-term use. Studies indicated that upregulating or activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AHR) could alleviate UC by suppressing inflammation, regulating immune homeostasis, and repairing the intestinal barrier. Given the aberrant AHR expression in UC patients, AHR is recognized as a promising therapeutic target. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) with its characteristics of multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways, effectively improves symptoms, prevents recurrence, and enhances the quality of life in UC patients. Research reveals that TCM components such as polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, and compound formulas(such as Fufang Huangqin Tang, Baitouweng Tang, and Gegen Qinlian Tang) can directly or indirectly upregulate/activate AHR by modulating gut microbiota, thereby ameliorating UC through anti-inflammatory effects, immune balance restoration, and barrier repair, with synergistic interactions among these mechanisms. This review systematically summarizes the abnormal pathological mechanisms of UC and the regulatory mechanisms of AHR, thereby explores the specific action mechanisms of TCM and compound formulas in treating UC via regulating AHR, so as to promote in-depth research and precise clinical applications of TCM against UC, and provide new ideas and methods for the treatment of UC.