Objectives : To compare the contents of hazardous substances before/after a decoction. Methods : The heavy metal contents before/after a decoction were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES) and mercury analyzer. In order to analyze pesticides in 6 samples we used simultaneous multi-residue analysis of pesticides by GC/ECD, which was followed by GC/MSD analysis to confirm the identity of the detected pesticide in each sample. In addition, the contents of sulfur dioxide (SO2) were performed by Monier-Williams distillation method. Results : 1. The mean values of heavy metal contents (mg/kg) for the samples were as follows: Samchulkunbi-tang (before decoction - Pb; 1.592, Cd; 0.155, As; 0.055 and Hg; 0.014, after decoction - Pb; 0.036, Cd; 0.002, As; not detected and Hg; 0.001), Yijin-tang (before decoction - Pb; 0.830, Cd; 0.077, As; 0.045 and Hg; 0.015, after decoction - Pb; 0.193, Cd; 0.010, As; not detected and Hg; 0.002), Banhabaikchulcheunma-tang (before decoction - Pb; 0.976, Cd; 0.164, As; 0.167 and Hg; 0.019, after decoction - Pb; 0.031, Cd; 0.003, As; 0.006 and Hg; 0.005), Pyungwi-san (before decoction - Pb; 2.162, Cd; 0.128, As; 0.061 and Hg; 0.018, after decoction - Pb; 0.080, Cd; 0.006, As; not detected and Hg; 0.005), Leejung-tang (before decoction - Pb; 1.480, Cd; 0.294, As; 0.034 and Hg; 0.012, after decoction - Pb; 0.064, Cd; 0.007, As; 0.007 and Hg; 0.002) and Kwibi-tang (before decoction - Pb; 0.907, Cd; 0.193, As; 0.085 and Hg; 0.020, after decoction - Pb; 0.072, Cd; 0.006, As; 0.004 and Hg; 0.002). 2. Contents (mg/kg) of sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) before a decoction in Banhabaikchulcheunma-tang, Pyungwi-san, Leejung-tang and Kwibi-tang exhibited 3.5, 3.4, 3.8 and 12.4, respectively. However, contents of sulfur dioxide after a decoction in all samples were not detected. 3. Contents (mg/kg) of residual pesticides before/after a decoction in all samples were not detected. Conclusions : These results will be used to establish a criterion of heavy metals, residual pesticides and sulfur dioxide.