Methods and precautions for decocting Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine is a traditional treatment method in my country, and the most important thing is that Chinese herbal preparations do not have major side effects. However, in the process of boiling, it is precisely because many people do not have a good boiling method and do not grasp the boiling time well that the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine cannot be brought into play. So let us explain the method of decocting Chinese medicine.

1. Utensils for decocting medicine: It is best to use casserole, pottery, and earthenware jars for decocting Chinese medicine because they have uniform heat conduction, moderate heat, strong heat preservation around the pot, less water evaporation, are not prone to chemical changes, and are inexpensive. You can also use enamelware, aluminum pots, stainless steel pots, iron pots, copper pots, etc. to boil the medicine.

2. Water for decocting medicine: The water for decocting medicine should be clean. Tap water, well water, purified water and distilled water are all acceptable. There are many ways to calculate the amount of water used, but the most commonly used one is visual inspection. When decocting the medicine, observe whether the amount of water added exceeds the surface of the medicine by 2-3 cm. Another method is to roughly estimate the water requirement by adding 10 ml of water per gram of medicine.

3. The temperature of decocting medicine: The temperature of decocting medicine is divided into "high heat" and "low heat". High fire refers to a frying method in which the fire is quick, the fire is strong, the temperature rises quickly, and a lot of water is evaporated. Slow fire refers to a frying method in which the fire is slow, the fire is weak, the temperature changes little, and the water evaporation is slow. Generally, the medicine should be boiled over high heat first, and then simmered over low heat for another 10-15 minutes. However, some prescriptions, such as antipyretics, heat-clearing agents, and aromatic drugs, only use high heat and should not be simmered for a long time over low heat. However, prescriptions with strong tonic flavors should be simmered over low heat for a long time to allow the medicinal flavor to fully come out. In addition, poisonous drugs such as aconite, wolfsbane, and monkshood should be simmered over low heat for a long time to reduce their toxicity.

4. Decoction method: The general decoction method is to first place the medicine in a container, add cold water and soak it for 20-30 minutes, then cover it and put it on the fire to heat and decoct. First boil it with high heat, then boil it with low heat. During the decoction process, pay attention to moderate stirring to avoid sticking to the pot, which can also increase the decoction rate of the active ingredients of the medicine. However, it is not advisable to open the lid too frequently to minimize the loss of volatile components. After simmering for 10-15 minutes, filter out the first medicinal liquid; then add an appropriate amount of hot water, boil as above, and get the second medicinal liquid. Mix the two liquid medicines evenly and take as directed by your doctor.

The above is the method of decocting Chinese medicine. The boiling of Chinese medicine can be said to be an art. If the boiling temperature is not high enough, the medicinal effect cannot play a certain role. If the boiling temperature is too high, the medicinal effect cannot play a certain role. Some ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine will evaporate. Therefore, it is important to grasp the correct method when decocting Chinese medicine.