Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of essential tremor (ET).Methods The clinical materials of 80 patients with ET was analysed.Results In 80 patients with ET, 50 cases for the male, 30 cases for the female,the age at tremor onset was from 3 to 70 years old,the mean age was 34.6?16.3 years old,the course of disease was 6 months to 60 years,the mean 14.2?9.9 years. 45 patients (56 3%) had postive family history,they showed mostly autosomal dominant inheritance.The postural tremor was the main manifestation of essential tremor,tremor affected hand in 92.5% patients,throat in 21.3%,head in 20%,chin in 17.5%. Functional disability and impairment in 17.5% patients because of tremor.91 2% patients had the effect of alcohol occurred in 34 cases who had performed alcohol test.6 3% patients accompanied parkinson’s disease.A small dose of propranolol was effective in 61% patients.Conclusion In the ET group,the patients were mostly young,single model,the number of the male ET cases was more than the female,sole postural tremor,part of patients might accompany PD,a small dose of propranolol was effective.