Hovenia dulcis Thunb. is a special medicine for relieving alcoholism,with a long history of applications. Firstly this paper summarizes the ancient and modern literature related with its medicinal parts. Then we focus on the chemical composition, the pharmacological effects and the clinical application of its different parts. It is shown that the medical parts of Hovenia dulcis Thunb recorded in national drug standards and different reference books are single seeds or fruits,or both of them, and they can be used at the same time. The seeds, fruits and other parts of hovenia acerba all have the effect of relieving alcoholism. The clinical usage of the medicinal part of it is only limited to its seed, without taking the full advantage of the superiority of the carpopodium. Using the modern science and technology in a comparative study of the alcoholism relieving effects of different parts of Hovenia dulcis Thunb is desirable to develop and utilizate the medicinal resources Hovenia dulcis Thunb.