Which is better, decoction or Chinese patent medicine?

my country's traditional Chinese medicine culture has a long history, and many veteran Chinese medicine practitioners are deeply trusted by the people. In addition, the side effects of traditional Chinese medicine are relatively smaller than those of western medicine, but the course of treatment is longer. Traditional Chinese medicine is divided into decoctions and Chinese patent medicines, which is also what people are more confused about when choosing. Which one is better, decoctions or Chinese patent medicines? In fact, if you see a Chinese medicine doctor, it is better to choose decoctions, as the effect will be more obvious for each person.

There are no two people in the world with exactly the same physique, and universal medicines are bound to have subtle deviations. If you want good results, decoctions are the most targeted, and they are targeted at your current symptoms. In comparison, even Chinese patent medicines produced by famous pharmaceutical companies, even if the quality is very good, are often impossible to match your condition exactly. It's like buying ready-made clothes, which are one size fits many people, but it is difficult to match your body shape in particular.

Nowadays, decoctions and granules are available. Almost all commonly used medicines are made into granules in advance, which can be mixed together when taking. Although the effect is not as good as decoctions, it is always better than patent Chinese medicines. After all, it is exclusive to you.

If you need to take medicine for a long time, you can ask a doctor who understands your condition to write a prescription and go to the pharmacy to make it into pills. First, it is customized for you, and second, it is convenient to take. At the same time, pills have a milder effect and are more suitable for diseases that require long-term conditioning, especially deficiency diseases. This may be more "personal" than Chinese patent medicine. Because there is a saying in Chinese medicine that "pills are slow-acting" and "decoctions are cleansing", pills are similar to today's "sustained-release pills" and are slowly absorbed. Their efficacy is also longer-lasting and more gentle than decoctions. Decoctions cleanse pathogenic factors and have a quick effect, but if taken for a long time, it is better to switch to pills for a more gentle effect.

Another problem is that although Chinese patent medicines are over-the-counter drugs and can be chosen by oneself, not everyone understands them, including Western medicine doctors. The Chinese patent medicines they prescribe are generally just according to what is written in the instructions. In fact, the effects of Chinese patent medicines may exceed those in the instructions, or you may not understand the treatment mechanism and the true symptoms just by reading the instructions. Therefore, if you take Chinese patent medicines, it is best to get one prescribed by a Chinese medicine practitioner, and don't rely on the recommendations of pharmacy attendants, as most of them only consider the price. As for Chinese patent medicines, if they are not suitable for your condition or are taken the wrong way, even if the quality is very good, the effect will be insignificant or even the opposite.