Can I stir the Chinese medicine when boiling it?

Is it necessary to mix the Chinese medicine when boiling it? Many of us now like to see Chinese medicine practitioners, but we only have a limited understanding of how to make Chinese medicine. How to boil Chinese medicine to fully exert its medicinal properties? So does it need to be stirred during the whole process of decocting Chinese medicine? Is it necessary to mix Chinese medicine when boiling it? Let’s take a look together.

Do you need to mix Chinese medicine when boiling it?

1. Moderate mixing can make the medicine fully mixed

We all know that doctors prescribe very different amounts of medicine (one dose) for different symptoms and the age and gender of the patient. When frying the Chinese medicinal materials with different recipes in a pot with a certain space, appropriate stirring and rolling are necessary to fry all the medicinal materials thoroughly and allow the effective ingredients to be fully diffused and mixed.

2. How to mix Chinese medicine when boiling it? Do you need to mix Chinese medicine when boiling it?

2.1. Generally speaking, mixing should be done within two time frames: one is to soak the Chinese medicinal materials before decocting (usually soak for half an hour before decocting), and "mixing" is to roll the Chinese medicinal materials after soaking for 15 minutes to facilitate thorough soaking of the Chinese medicinal materials and high extraction rate of ingredients; the second is to "mix" less frequently during decocting to prevent the medicine from overflowing. When mixing, pay attention to the following two points: first, avoid using iron, aluminum, plastic equipment for mixing to prevent chemical changes or precipitation, reduce solubility, etc., which will affect the efficacy or cause side effects; second, the mixture must reach the bottom of the pot when rolling. Mixing only in the shallow part of the medicine will not achieve the desired effect. The outer lid should be closed immediately after mixing.

2.2. However, whether to stir the Chinese medicine during the decoction process depends on the specific situation. Some Chinese medicinal materials are not suitable for mixing during decocting, such as some Chinese herbal prescriptions for dispersing deficiency or aromatic dehumidification. They are mainly some aromatic Chinese medicinal materials with volatile oils such as mint, patchouli, perilla leaves, etc. They are generally not suitable for long-term decocting and should be decocted in a hurry. If they are frequently "lifted the lid and stirred", the volatile oils in their ingredients will be released into the air with the water vapor, and the medicinal power will be greatly affected.

3. Frequent mixing can easily cause the drug to evaporate

"All decocted medicines require even heating to prevent sticky ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pot, so they need to be stirred while boiling," Guo Jiewen wrote. But it is also wrong if the old website keeps stirring in front of the medicine jar. "Frequent stirring will cause the temperature in the medicine pot to drop significantly, which is not conducive to the total mixing of the Chinese medicinal materials. It will also cause some volatile components to evaporate, thus affecting the efficacy of the medicine. It is recommended that Chinese medicine should not be stirred frequently when decocting. Generally, rolling it up and down once every 10 minutes is sufficient."

Common problems in boiling Chinese medicine

1. Soaking before decocting Chinese medicine

Generally, add cold water to the medicine surface, soak it and then boil it, so that the ingredients are easier to boil out. Generally, it is enough to soak for about 30 minutes, but it also depends on the lightness and heaviness of the material of the Chinese medicinal materials themselves, as well as the season and temperature. Flowers, grasses and leaves can be soaked for 20 minutes; underground stems, seeds, fruits, iron ore and crustacean Chinese medicinal materials should be soaked for 30 to 60 minutes. In short, soaking the Chinese medicinal materials is the standard.

2. Selection of Chinese medicine decoction supplies Do you need to mix the Chinese medicine when boiling it?

The quality of the potion is closely related to the cooking utensils. According to historical records, "silver is the best, and porcelain is the second best", and tin or iron pots are not recommended for cooking. Because some drugs will precipitate when they come into contact with metal materials such as tin and iron, reducing their solubility and even causing chemical reactions, resulting in side effects. At present, it is generally believed that porcelain and pottery jars should be used instead of frying pans and copper hot pots. It is best not to use aluminum pots, stainless steel plates, and porcelain utensils to decoct Chinese medicine to ensure the efficacy of Chinese medicine.

3. Selection of tap water for decocting Chinese medicine

Water is the most common solvent for decocting Chinese herbal medicines. Generally, clean cold water should be used, such as drinking water, river water, purified water, etc. The amount of water required should be determined based on factors such as the drug's net weight, volume, water absorption, decoction time, degree of doneness and required dosage. Generally, it is appropriate for the water to penetrate about half an inch into the drug. The amount of water needed for decocting Chinese medicine should be filled up at one time. There is no need to add water multiple times in the middle, and it is even more forbidden to decoct the medicine and then add water to decoct it again. The decocted medicine should be discarded.

Three reasons why you don’t need to heat Chinese medicine in a microwave

1. Chinese herbal medicines will change their properties

The heating principle of microwave ovens is to use microwaves to heat food, causing its internal molecules to vibrate and melt. When Chinese medicine is boiled in a microwave oven, the molecular structure of the Chinese medicine vibrates and melts during the melting process, causing the molecular structure of the Chinese medicine to be destroyed and mutated, losing its original efficiency.

2. The decoction methods are different. Do you need to mix the Chinese medicine when boiling it?

The materials and characteristics of Chinese medicinal materials are usually significantly different, so the decoction method or decoction time is often different, including decocting first, adding later, decocting in a wrapped form, etc. The vessels for decocting Chinese medicine are usually covered. If they are heated in a microwave oven, it is difficult to know exactly when the Chinese medicine has boiled, whether enough water has been added, and it is also inconvenient to stir the Chinese medicine during the decocting process.

3. The degree of maturity and timing cannot be controlled

When decocting Chinese medicine, it is important to pay attention to its degree of doneness. If it is decocted in a microwave oven, the degree of doneness and decocting time cannot be controlled. To boil Chinese medicine, first bring it to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Different medicines have different soaking times. Since Chinese medicinal materials are cooked over a low heat, and the basic principle of a microwave oven is to cook them quickly from the inside out, the actual medicinal value of the Chinese medicinal materials cannot be reflected.