Abstract: 0.5000g sample of rhizome of chuanxiong was digested with a mixed acid of HNO3 and HClO4, and the content of Cu in sample solution was determined by FAAS and the contents of Cd and Pb were determined by GFAAS. Mg(NO3)2 and NH4H2PO4 were used as matrix modifiers for Cd and Pb respectively. Linear relationships between values of absorbance and mass concentration of the 3 elements were obtained in definite ranges, with detection limits (3s) in the range of 0.08-0.26 μg·L-1. The proposed method was used in the analysis of samples of rhizome of chuanxiong, values of recovery found by standard addition method were in the range of 101.5%-108.2%, and values of RSD′s (n=6) found were in the range of 0.4%-1.5%.