Can I still boil Chinese medicine if it is infested with worms?

Many people prefer to see a Chinese medicine doctor when they are sick. They feel that although Chinese medicine is not as fast as Western medicine, it can eliminate the root cause of the disease and has relatively few toxic side effects. There are many Chinese medicinal materials for sale in pharmacies now. You can buy them with a doctor's prescription. Pharmacies also sell decocted medicines, making it easier and more convenient for patients to take Chinese medicine. But if the Chinese medicine is infested with worms, can it still be decocted?

Can I still boil Chinese medicine if it is infested with worms?

If it is for external use, you can save it, but if it is for eating, it is better not to use it.

Methods of decocting Chinese medicine

The choice of decocting vessels.

The first thing you need to pay attention to when decocting Chinese medicine is the choice of decocting vessel. Among the numerous cooking utensils, the most suitable ones for decocting medicine are casseroles or ceramic utensils, because the ingredients of these utensils are relatively stable and not easy to react chemically with the decocted Chinese medicine. At the same time, these pots are more compact and the decoction is thicker. It is best not to use copper pots, iron pots, etc. This type of utensils can easily react chemically with certain ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, so they must be prohibited!

Soak before decocting the medicine.

When decocting medicine, you don’t just pour all the Chinese medicine into the pot and start boiling it. Generally speaking, Chinese medicine needs to be soaked for about 10-30 minutes before decocting. This will allow the medicine to better exert its medicinal effects during the decocting process.

The amount and temperature of water for decocting medicine.

Usually, the amount of medicinal materials added should be controlled to submerge the surface of the medicinal materials by about an inch. Because the amount of water directly affects the quality of the decoction, it must be taken seriously. Some other medicinal materials with better water absorption usually require more water, while medicinal materials with low water absorption, such as shells and minerals, can require slightly less water.

Decoction time.

The decocting time varies according to the characteristics of different Chinese medicines. Generally, the medicinal materials can be boiled and then simmered for about 20-30 minutes each time. It is best to boil antipyretics, heat-clearing drugs, and aromatic herbs quickly over high heat, 10-15 minutes after boiling. It is best to boil tonic Chinese medicine over low heat for a long time, about 30-40 minutes after boiling.

The problem with the medicine pot lid.

Be sure to cover the pot when decocting medicine. First, covering the pot can allow the Chinese medicine to better exert its medicinal effects during the decoction process. Second, for some Chinese medicines that are easy to evaporate, covering the pot can prevent the medicinal effects of the Chinese medicine from evaporating. Third, covering the pot can make the medicine more concentrated. Note that for some poisonous herbs, you can open the lid of the pot first during the decocting process, and then cover the pot again when the toxicity has almost evaporated and then boil it with other herbs. In addition, if you are worried that the medicine will burn if you cover the pot, you can use chopsticks to prop up the lid. This will prevent the pot from getting stuck and will allow the medicine to fully exert its efficacy.