OBJECTIVE： To optimize the soxhlet extraction technology of Atractylodis macrocephalae， and to provide evidence for research and preparation of its formula granules. METHODS： Using the contents of atractylenolide Ⅰ， Ⅱ， Ⅲ as index， based on single factor test， the Soxhlet extraction technology of A. macrocephalae formula granules was optimized and verified by L9（34） orthogonal test with extraction time， solid-liquid ratio， extraction times as factors， and then compared with other technologies （normal temperature extraction method， ultrasonic extraction method， reflux extraction method）. RESULTS： The optimal extraction technology was as follows as 6-fold ethanol， extracting for 3 times， lasting for 8 h. Results of validation test showed that the extraction amounts of atractylenolide were 0.769， 0.752， 0.781 mg/g （RSD＝1.99％， n＝3） for 3 times， which were higher than the extraction amounts of other 3 methods （0.683， 0.489， 0.693 mg/g）. CONCLUSIONS： The optimized extraction technology possesses high extraction rates of atractylenolide Ⅰ， Ⅱ， Ⅲ， and can be used for the extraction of internal ether from A. macrocephalae formula granules.