To carry out a systematic pharmacognostical study on Shoushen and Naishoushen, and to provide the basis for establishing its quality standard and appraisal. Methods:Based on the methods recorded in appendix of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2010 edition, volume1), the water content, total ash and ethanol-soluble extractives of the crude drugs were detected. The microscopy TLC was used for qualitative identification. With gastrodin as control agent, 70% methyl alcohol was used to extract. With ethyl acetate formic acid-water (9:1:0.2) as developing solvent, 10% phosphomolybdic acid ethanol solution was sprayed. And at 105 ℃ heated until spot color was clear. By ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and HPLC method were used for the determination of contents of the polysaccharides and gastrodine of Shoushen and Naishoushen. Chromatographic column for ZOBB AX eclipse XDB-C18 (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 cm); methanol-water (0.04% phosphoric acid) (8:92) was used as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the detection wavelength was at 222 nm. Results:In thin layer chromatography (TLC), the same color spots were detected in the corresponding positions of the chromatography. HPLC was used to elute the gastrodine and achieve the baseline separation. The concentration of gastrodine in the concentration range 0.009～0.09 mg/mL was good. And the regression equation was Y=586866X+425821 (R2=0.9996) and the average recovery was 100.1%. Precision test, repeatability test, stability test were in line with the requirements. Three batches of sample extract was 26.13%～42.58%, water 3.47%～5.31% and total ash content was 5.43%～6.33%. Conclusion:The indictment method is reliable, sensitive, specific, accurate and stable. The results provide scientific basis for identification, resource utilization and improvement of quality standards.