Some people find it difficult to swallow traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its bitter taste. As a result, they tend to boil the medicine for a longer period of time, resulting in a highly concentrated liquid with very little remaining. However, this practice is not advisable.
Firstly, during the process of boiling, the active ingredients of the medicine are released from the herbs into the liquid. After a certain amount of time and concentration, the release of these active ingredients stops. Therefore, continuing to boil the medicine will not increase its concentration.
Secondly, some medicines may lose their effectiveness if boiled for too long. For example, heat-sensitive herbs may lose their active ingredients due to evaporation along with the steam. The longer the boiling time, the more active ingredients are lost, resulting in reduced efficacy.
Lastly, boiling the medicine to a very high concentration will result in a stronger bitter taste, making it more likely to cause adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting.
Therefore, in order to maximize the therapeutic effects of TCM, it is recommended not to boil the medicine to a highly concentrated state. Generally, the amount of liquid boiled should not be less than 200 milliliters, and for children, the amount should not be less than 120 milliliters.
