Boiling children's herbal soups requires some herbs to be boiled first, then added to the pot, wrapped in cloth, or brewed before consumption. Parents should consult with a pharmacist or physician if they have any questions after obtaining the medicine. For example, "boiling first" means boiling certain herbs in a pot for about 15 minutes before adding other herbs to the mixture. Minerals, shells, and highly toxic herbs are the ones that need to be boiled first. Examples of the former include dragon bone and oyster; examples of the latter include raw pinellia and rhubarb.
"Adding later" refers to adding certain herbs to the mixture when the other herbs are almost done boiling. This is because these herbs have strong volatile aromas and can easily lose their medicinal properties if boiled for too long. Examples include mint, patchouli, and agarwood. In addition, some herbs need to be wrapped in gauze before boiling with other herbs. This is called "wrapping in cloth." The reason for this is that some herbs have fine hairs, such as honeysuckle and loquat leaf. If not wrapped, they can irritate the throat and cause coughing and vomiting. As for precious herbs such as sanqi powder, pearl, and deer antler, they can be ground into powder and taken orally to avoid wastage.
Most medicines for treating children's colds are dispersing herbs, such as chrysanthemum and mulberry leaf. The boiling time should be short, generally 5 to 10 minutes after boiling. These herbs are easily dispersed into the air during the boiling process and should be covered with a lid.
Tonic herbs, seeds, and shells require a longer boiling time, about 20 minutes after boiling. Many of these herbs are precious and have volatile components, so they need to be boiled in a sealed container.
The amount of medicine boiled should be determined according to the child's age: 60-80 milliliters for infants, 100-150 milliliters for toddlers, 50-200 milliliters for preschool children, and 200-300 milliliters for school-age children. It is best to take the medicine between meals (such as around 10 am and 3 pm) and when the child feels thirsty. This makes it easier to take the herbal medicine and facilitates its absorption and utilization.
Taking medicine before meals can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and cause abdominal pain, while taking medicine after meals can cause vomiting due to a full stomach. In addition, the herbal soup can be divided into 2 to 3 doses according to the child's characteristics.
