Should the Sediment of Chinese Medicinal Decoctions be Discarded?
After brewing Chinese medicinal decoctions, there is often a muddy sediment at the bottom of the bowl when it cools down. The decision to either mix the sediment with water and consume it or discard it completely is an important one that directly affects the efficacy of the medicine.
Whether to drink or discard the sediment of Chinese medicinal decoctions depends on the specific medicine. Let's take Huanglian (Coptis chinensis) and Gancao (Licorice root) as an example. Huanglian contains alkaloids such as berberine, while Gancao contains acidic compounds such as glycyrrhizic acid. Both of these components have high solubility in water, so they can dissolve from the herbal medicine pieces into the water during the brewing process. When these two medicines are brewed together, the berberine and glycyrrhizic acid can potentially meet and form salts or complexes with lower solubility in water, resulting in fine solid particles suspended in the decoction, making it cloudy. If the decoction is left to settle, it may form a muddy sediment at the bottom of the bowl. When Huanglian and Gancao are brewed together, if the amount of Gancao is relatively large, the clear liquid obtained after settling may not taste bitter, but its antibacterial effect is greatly reduced. This indicates that berberine, which has a strong antibacterial effect but tastes extremely bitter, has settled in the sediment at the bottom of the bowl. Therefore, if a prescription containing Huanglian and Gancao is brewed together, the muddy sediment at the bottom of the bowl should not be discarded, as it will likely affect the efficacy of the medicine.
The correct approach is to add some water to the sediment and mix it thoroughly.
It is appropriate to consume the mixture. At present, it is not completely clear which insoluble substances formed between different drugs are effective or ineffective. However, to ensure the efficacy of the medicine, it is better not to discard the sediment and to consume it if possible.
In ancient times, although the medical community did not know which compounds might produce insoluble substances in water or understand the principles behind the formation of sediment during decoction, they noticed in clinical practice that the sediment should not be easily removed. One method used was to filter the medicine liquid to allow the sediment to enter the liquid for consumption. Even today, this method is still used, often with a single layer of coarse gauze or mesh for filtration. In conclusion, although Chinese medicinal decoctions may appear cloudy, there is a reason for the cloudiness. Do not prioritize appearance or ease of consumption and turn the decoction into a clear liquid. It is best to consume the entire decoction that has been brewed.
