Volatile compounds in Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht, Coptis japonica Makino, and Chelidonium majus var. asiaticum were analyzed by thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD GC/MS). Thirty-eight compounds-20 hydrocarbons, 2 alcohols, 9 aldehydes, 2 ketones, 3 ethers, a carboxylic acid, and a heterocyclic acid-were identified in Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht. Twenty-five compounds-18 hydrocarbons, an alcohol, an aldehyde, 3 ketones, an ester, and a carboxylic acid-were identified in Coptis japonica Makino. Twenty-four compounds-14 hydrocarbons, an alcohol, 3 aldehydes, 2 ketones, an ether, an ester, a carboxylic acid, and a heterocyclic acid-were identified in Chelidonium majus var. asiaticum. Monoterpene hydrocarbon compounds were the major compounds found in Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht (64.16%), Coptis japonica Makino (95.02%), and Chelidonium majus var. asiaticum (92.05%). Unlike Coptis japonica Makino and Chelidonium majus var. asiaticum, Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht was found to contain large amounts of aldehyde compounds. The nitrogen compound, N-vinyl-2-oxazolidone, was the most common compound found in Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht and Coptis japonica Makino. Trans-Caryophyllene of sesquiterpene was the most common compound found in Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht, Coptis japonica Makino, and Chelidonium majus var. asiaticum.