The correct steps for decocting Chinese medicine first

When treating a disease, if you buy Chinese herbal medicine, you need to decoct it first and then take it. Decoction is also a science. Many people hold the Chinese medicine bag but don’t know how to decoct it. The quality of decoction directly determines the quality of the medicine and determines whether the therapeutic effect is better. So when decocting the medicine, you must first understand some common sense. First of all, you must choose the decoction utensils. The decoction utensils cannot be made of metal.

1. Selection of decoction utensils

The quality of Chinese herbal medicine decoction is closely related to the selected decoction device. Nowadays, clay pots are still the best choice because the material of clay pots is stable and will not react chemically with the drug ingredients. It also transfers heat evenly and gently, which is one of the reasons why it has been used since ancient times. In addition, enamel pots, stainless steel pots and glass frying pans are also available. However, iron pots and copper pots cannot be used, mainly because the chemical properties of iron pots and copper pots are unstable and easily oxidized. When decocting medicine, it can react with the chemical components contained in the traditional Chinese medicine. For example, it can react with tannin components to produce tannic acid iron, which deepens the color of the medicine solution. It can form incompatible polymers with flavonoids. It can form salts with organic acids. These will affect the quality of the decoction and are directly related to the clinical efficacy of the Chinese medicine decoction.

2. The amount of water added for decoction

The amount of water added when decocting medicine is also very important, as the amount directly affects the quality of the decoction. If too little water is added, the medicine will not be boiled thoroughly and the effective ingredients will not be completely extracted. If too much water is added, more medicine liquid will be boiled, which is very inconvenient for patients to take the medicine. Due to the different textures of Chinese medicinal materials, their water absorption capacity varies greatly, and the amount of water added is generally controlled at 5-10 times. Medicines of the same weight will have larger volumes if they have loose texture, and will naturally absorb more water. The firmer the texture, the smaller the volume and the less water it absorbs. Therefore, when decocting flowers, leaves, and whole herbs, more water should be added. When decocting mineral and shellfish medicines, add less water. According to the traditional method of adding water, the medicine is placed in the pot. The amount of water added for the first decoction should be 3-5 cm above the surface of the medicine. The amount of water added for the second decoction should be 3 cm above the surface of the medicine. This method of adding water is simple, easy to operate and easy to master.

3. Matters needing attention in decocting medicine

1. Soaking before decocting: The medicine must be soaked before decocting. This is because most of the Chinese medicines derived from plants are dry products. Soaking in water can soften the medicinal materials, and the tissue cells will expand and return to their natural state, making it easier for the effective ingredients to be leached out during decocting. Generally, for medicines based on flowers, leaves and stems, the soaking time is 1-1.5 hours. The soaking time for medicines mainly composed of roots, seeds, rhizomes and fruits is 2-3 hours.

2. Number of decoctions: Multiple decoctions are more effective than one long decoction. Practice has shown that decocting a decoction twice can extract about 80% of its ingredients, so it is appropriate to decoct the medicine two or three times.

3. The temperature of decocting medicine: The temperature of decocting medicine is called "fire" in traditional Chinese medicine, and is generally called "gentle fire" or "strong fire". The so-called low heat is a weak fire, the temperature rises slowly, and the water evaporates slowly. The so-called high fire is a strong fire. The temperature rises quickly and the water evaporates quickly. If the fire is too strong when decocting the medicine, the water will evaporate quickly, which will affect the extraction of effective ingredients and easily cause the pot to become sticky. On the contrary, if the fire is weak, the effect of the decocted medicine will be poor. Generally, high heat is used before boiling, and then low heat is used after boiling. Keeping it in a slightly boiling state can slow down the evaporation of water, which is conducive to the extraction of effective ingredients.

4. Decoction time: mainly depends on the nature of the medicine and the disease, as well as the condition of the medicine. Generally, the first frying takes 20-30 minutes from the start of boiling, and the second frying takes 30-40 minutes. For cold treatment medicines, the first decoction should be for 10-15 minutes and the second decoction should be for 15-20 minutes. For tonic medicines, the first decoction should be 30-40 minutes, and the second decoction should be 40-50 minutes.

5. The amount of retained medicinal liquid: generally refers to the amount of medicinal liquid after two decoctions of a dose of medicine. Adults take 400-600 ml, twice a day. Children take 200-300 ml, divided into two or three times a day.

6. Method of taking the medicine: Generally, a dose of medicine is decocted twice and then the liquid is combined and taken in two doses. Children can take it in 2-3 doses. Medicines for treating colds, fever, enteritis, and diarrhea can also be taken frequently, that is, take it every 4 hours, 30-40 ml each time. Stop taking it when the illness is cured, and then change to taking it 2-3 times a day. It is better for children to take small amounts and multiple times.