[Objective]To study the effect of dry methods on the content of butylphthalide in Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. stems and leaves (Miwu). [Methods]The content of butylphthalide in Miwu from different dry methods was determinated by HPLC. [Results]There was a good linear relationship between butylphthalide concentration and peak area when the sample injection was from 0.123 1 to 1.231 0 μg/mL (R=0.999 9),the quantification limit was 0.012 31 mg/mL,the average recovery was 100.1%,and RSD was 0.93% (n=9). Different dry methods had some influence on the butylphthalide content in Miwu. The content of butylphthalide was 0.024 84%,0.051 78% and 0.064 68% in tested samples of Miwu that were respectively obtained by sun-drying,shade drying and oven-drying after sunshine. As to Miwu,oven-drying after sunshine was superior to the above two methods. [Conclusions] Among the three drying methods,oven-drying after sunshine was the optimal one for Miwu.