Medicine Temperature
Warm: Most decoctions should be taken warm, as warm medicine can nourish the stomach and spleen and reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract;
Cold: Patients with vomiting or poisoning should take medicine cold, and cold medicine can also be taken for heat syndrome. For true cold and false heat conditions, hot medicine should be taken cold;
Hot: Medicine for relieving surface conditions and cold syndrome should be taken hot to enhance its effectiveness. For true heat and false cold conditions, cold medicine should be taken hot.
Most decoctions should be taken warm. Medicine for relieving surface conditions should be taken while hot. Cold medicine should be taken for heat conditions, and hot medicine should be taken for cold conditions. For true cold and false heat conditions, hot medicine should be taken cold, and for true heat and false cold conditions, cold medicine should be taken hot.
Dosage
Adults: Generally, about 150-200ml per dose, twice a day.
Children: Generally, about 75-150ml per dose, twice a day. Reduce the dosage for infants. It should be noted that when children take medicine, it is better to use a concentrated volume and take small amounts multiple times to avoid choking. For critical patients, follow the doctor's instructions for medication.
Ointments, pills, granules, powders, and wines should be taken 2-3 times a day.
Time and Frequency of Medication
Chinese herbal medicine is usually taken 2-3 times a day. However, for critically ill patients, medication can be taken every 4 hours or so, without interruption day and night. When using diaphoretic or purgative medicines, if the medicine is strong, individual differences of the patient should be considered, and the dosage should be adjusted based on the extent of sweating or diarrhea.
1. Tonics should be taken after meals.
2. Medicine for relieving surface conditions should be taken while hot, covered with clothes and blankets to induce mild sweating, and then the medicine can be stopped when sweating and relief of surface symptoms are achieved.
3. Deworming and laxative medicines are best taken on an empty stomach.
4. Sedatives should be taken before going to bed.
5. Antimalarial drugs should be taken 2-3 hours before the onset of malaria.
6. Medication for chronic diseases must be taken at regular intervals.
7. Special prescriptions should be taken as instructed by the doctor.
8. Generally, medicine should be taken before meals, and medicine that stimulates the gastrointestinal tract should be taken after meals.
9. Acute illnesses have no specific timing for medication.
10. Ointments, pills, granules, powders, and wines should be taken at a scheduled time every day.
Dietary Restrictions During Medication
During medication, it is generally advisable to eat less beans, meat, raw and cold food, and other hard-to-digest foods to avoid increasing the patient's digestive burden.
Medication Precautions
1. For patients who are unconscious and have difficulty swallowing, nasal feeding is recommended.
2. For strong or toxic medicine, start with a small amount and gradually increase the dosage.
3. Medication should be taken in a draft-free environment, and rest is recommended after taking tablets.
