Objective The variations in inorganic element content and the safety of heavy metals and harmful elements in Ranunculi ternati radix from different origins were investigated.Methods The quantitative analysis of 24 elements in the samples was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Health risk assessment was conducted using estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR). Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used for origin identification analysis and differential element screening.Results All 25 Ranunculi ternati radix samples from different origins contain abundant macronutrients (K, Na, Ca, and Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, Mn, Ni, V, Co, Mo, and Se) essential for the human body. The contents of heavy metals and harmful elements Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Cu are 0.63~0.51, 0.05~0.11, 0.26~0.62, 0.01~0.10, and 32.96~167.25 mg/kg, respectively. Among them, the Cu content exceeds the limit for botanical drugs in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition). In terms of health risk assessment, the EDI analysis reveals that the estimated maximum daily intakes of Cr, Al, Ni, Pb, As, and Cu for adults and children from Ranunculi ternati radix in all or some origins exceed 10% of the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI), with some exceeding the PTDI value, indicating health risks. In the THQ analysis, the target hazard quotient values of Cr, Al, Cu, and As for adults and children from Ranunculi ternati radix in all or some origins exceed the standard THQ, indicating health hazard risks. In the CR analysis, the potential carcinogenic risk indices of Cd and As, as well as the total potential carcinogenic risk index of the three heavy metals Cd, As, and Pb, range from 1×10^-6 to 1×10^-4, indicating potential carcinogenic risks. The PCA identifies elements such as V, Al, Cs, Co, As, Fe, Mn, Tl, Cr, Pb, K, Ni, Sr, Cu, Ag, Cd, Hg, Zn, Ca, Na, Mo, Mg, and Se as the characteristic elements of Ranunculi ternati radix. The PLS-DA identifies four elements, including K, Mg, Fe, and Al, as effective traceability indicators for the origin of Ranunculi ternati radix.Conclusion The established method can rapidly and accurately analyze the inorganic element contents in Ranunculi ternati radix. When Ranunculi ternati radix is ingested for a long term, attention should be paid to controlling the dosage and duration of administration to reduce the health risks caused by elements such as Cr, Al, As, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd.