Dry and wet methods were used to digest Phellodendron grown in Jinxiu Dayaoshan of Guangxi with a high-pressure jar and to prepare the samples. The contents of microelements Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and Ni and macroelements K, Ca, Mg, Sr and Na in Phellodendron were determined by using ICP-AES. Meanwhile, the optimal digestion conditions were found： 7 mL of HNO3 + HClO4 + H2O2 (volume ratio 5:1:1) for 4 h. The work condition and the optical wavelength were selected. The RSD was found to be less than 5% and the recovery rates of all elements were within the range of 89. 4%-113.1%. The determined results agree with the analytical demand, and also indicate that Phellodendron contains high contents of Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn microelements. It is important to assess the medicinal value and understand pharmacological action of Phellodendron by the deterruination of microelements in the Chinese medicine with ICP-AES.