The normal Raman spectra and surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS) of largehead atractylodes rhizome decoction were tested and analyzed. The characteristic Raman bands of largehead atractylodes rhizome decoction were tentatively assigned. Six obvious Raman bands (396, 548, 617, 730, 955 and 1 327 cm-1) were observed in the SERS of largehead atractylodes rhizome decoction. The absorption spectra of largehead atractylodes rhizome decoction and the mixture of silver colloids and largehead atractylodes rhizome decoction were tested. A new resonance absorption peak (999 nm) appeared in the long-wavelength region in UV-Vis absorption spectra of the mixture. The adsorption characteristics and possible enhancing mechanism of the largehead atractylodes rhizome decoction on silver colloid were speculated. The results showed that the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy might provide a new kind of precise, direct and fast detecting method for the largehead atractylodes rhizome decoction or other traditional Chinese medicine.