To research the characteristics of ion currents induced by inhibitory and excitatory herbs of oriental medicine, we used nystatin-perforated patch clamp technique under voltage clamp condition in periaqueductal gray neuron dissociated from Sprauge-Dawley rat, 10-15 days old. The results are as follows. 1. Ion current induced by $10mg/m{ell}$ of Bupleuri Radix was inhibited $59.50{pm}4.29%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline(p>0.01) but inhibition of $10.75{pm}4.77%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine and $4.75{pm}4.23%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil had no statistical significance(p>0.05). So ion current induced by Bupleuri Radix revealed only GABA induced $Cl^-$ current, not acetylcholine and $Ca^{2+}$ current. 2. Ion current induced by $20mg/m{ell}$ of Coptidis Rhizoma was inhibited $47.20{pm}7.88%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline(p<0.01) but $3.20{pm}2.33%$ inhibition by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine and $1.00{pm}1.00%$ inhibition by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil had no significance(p>0.05). So ion current induced by Coptidis Rhizoma revealed only GABA induced $Cl^-$ current, not acetylcholine and $Ca^{2+}$ current. 3. Ion current induced by $20mg/m{ell}$ of Ecliptae Herba was inhibited $55.00{pm}4.92%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline (p<0.01), and also inhibited $15.00{pm}4.26%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.05), but inhibition of $6.00{pm}3.03%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil had no significance(p>0.05). So ion current induced by Ecliptae Herba showed GABA activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation current, not $Ca^{2+}$ current 4. Ion current induced by $5mg/m{ell}$ of Liriopis Tuber was inhibited $15.20{pm}4.57%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline<0.05) and also inhibited $14.00{pm}3.00%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.05), but inhibition of $5.20{pm}4.80%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil had no significance(p>0.05). So ion current induced by Liriopis Tuber showed GABA. activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation current, not $Ca^{2+}$ current. 5. Ion current induced by $5mg/m{ell}$ of Aconiti Tuber was inhibited $97.00{pm}1.34%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline(p<0.01), $80.00{pm}9.83%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.01), and $24.00{pm}6.18%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil(p<0.05). So ion current induced by Aconiti Tuber revealed GABA activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation current and $Ca^{2+}$ current. 6. Ion current induced by $10mg/m{ell}$ of Zingiberis Rhizoma was inhibited $33.00{pm}7.43%$ by $10^{-4}$ bicuculline(p<0.05), $10.20{pm}1.83%$ by $10-^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.01), and $14.00{pm}2.16%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil(p<0.01) So ion current induced by Zingiberis Rhizoma revealed GABA activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation outtent and $Ca^{2+}$ current. 7. Ion current induced by $10mg/m{ell}$ of Boshniakiae Herba was inhibited $65.00{pm}13.75%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline(p<0.05), $38.00{pm}9.24%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.05), and $33.25{pm}7.42%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamiHp<0.05). So ion current induced by Bpshniakiae Herba revealed GABA activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation current and $Ca^{2+}$ current. These results suggest that a point of difference between inhibitory and excitatory herbs is existence of$Ca^{2+}$ current..