Should Chinese herbs be washed before decoction?
Do Chinese herbs need to be washed before decoction? Many people have this question, but it is not easy to wash a packet of Chinese herbs. Let's understand whether Chinese herbs need to be washed before decoction and some precautions for decocting herbs together.
Precautions for decocting Chinese herbs, should Chinese herbs be washed before decoction
Should Chinese herbs be washed before decoction?
Decoction is the oldest and most commonly used form of traditional Chinese medicine. Whether using a single herb or a combination of herbs to make a formula, it is necessary to decoct the herbs with water, alcohol, or other medicinal liquids before they can be taken. Some people always wash the Chinese herb slices with water before decoction, thinking that this can ensure hygiene, but this is incorrect.
Chinese herbs undergo a series of processing steps, including impurity removal and drying, before being made into slices. The hygiene standards have already been met, so there is no need to wash them with water. Many herbs contain water-soluble sugars and glycosides, and washing with water will cause these active ingredients to dissolve partially and be lost, resulting in reduced efficacy and affecting the treatment effect. Some Chinese herbal formulas contain powdered herbs, and some herbs need to be ground during preparation. If washed with water beforehand, it will inevitably lead to the loss of these herbs and affect the therapeutic effect. In addition, some herbs have auxiliary ingredients such as honey, vinegar, alcohol, and bile added during processing, and these ingredients are easily soluble in water. Washing with water will cause partial loss of these auxiliary ingredients.
Chinese herbs should not be rinsed before decoction, but soaked in water instead. This allows the water to penetrate the herbs and dissolve some of the active ingredients in the water. Most Chinese herbs are plant-based, and many plant-based medicines contain proteins and starch. If these plant-based medicines are not soaked in water and immediately decocted with water, the proteins will coagulate and the starch will gelatinize when heated, which will hinder the extraction of active ingredients. Therefore, before decoction, Chinese herbs should generally be soaked in cold water for 30 minutes to 1 hour, with enough water to cover the herbs and exceed about 1 centimeter.
In addition, it is forbidden to use copper, iron, aluminum, and other metal containers for decocting Chinese herbs to avoid affecting the efficacy. Do not take deteriorated or burnt herbs to avoid poisoning. Pay attention to the timing and method of taking medication and follow medical advice.
