In life, the most commonly encountered traditional Chinese medicine formulation is the decoction, but it is just one type of formulation. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon records different types of formulations such as decoctions, pills, powders, ointments, medicinal wines, etc.; the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica also emphasizes the importance of processing Chinese herbs, stating that the choice of formulation should be based on the properties of the herbs; and the Compendium of Materia Medica in the Ming Dynasty records nearly 40 types of formulated Chinese medicine. With the demand for clinical medication and the development of modern technology, the number of Chinese medicine formulations continues to increase. Choosing the appropriate formulation is crucial to ensuring and improving efficacy. Here are some commonly used formulations.
Decoctions for treating new and acute illnesses
In traditional Chinese medicine formulations, it was believed that "decoctions are used to dispel serious illnesses, powders are used to dispel acute illnesses, and pills are used for milder conditions." This is because decoctions are easily absorbed and take effect quickly. During the decoction process of traditional Chinese medicine herbs, a series of physical and chemical reactions occur, which can change the pH value of the liquid, resulting in increased solubility, enhanced efficacy, and reduced toxicity. The precipitates or new components produced during the reaction can have certain therapeutic effects. Powders are in a powdered form and are also easily dispersed and absorbed. For example, blood-activating and pain-relieving powders are used to treat external injuries, thin saliva powders and Tongguan powders are used to treat coma, etc. Based on clinical experience, for people who need to dispel pathogenic factors and regulate chronic diseases, the decoction method can be used to take advantage of its small dosage, ascending and dispersing properties, and dissipation effects. For example, Yin Qiao powder is used to treat wind-heat, and Yu Ping Feng powder is used to consolidate the exterior.
Water pills for chronic diseases
Water pills are made with liquid binders (water, wine, vinegar, medicinal juice). After ingestion, they dissolve and absorb more quickly than honey pills, paste pills, and wax pills. They have a mild and long-lasting effect and are suitable for long-term medication in chronic patients.
Honey pills for tonifying the middle and replenishing qi
Honey pills are more commonly used in the northern region. In the southern region where the weather is humid, honey pills are not easy to store and are often made into water honey pills. Honey is used as a binder, and it has the functions of tonifying qi, nourishing the middle, relieving pain, moistening the lungs, stopping cough, and promoting bowel movements. This also determines the mild nature of honey pills, which are suitable for cough suppression, phlegm elimination, and tonifying the middle and replenishing qi. Among them, water honey pills are smaller in size, easy to swallow, and easy to store.
"Life-saving drugs" - concentrated pills and drop pills
Concentrated pills and drop pills have the characteristics of fast absorption and high bioavailability. For example, Danshen drop pills are excellent drugs for treating cardiovascular diseases, with fast onset, long-lasting effects, and convenient portability.
It is worth reminding that in daily life, when we encounter common illnesses such as colds, heatstroke, diarrhea, and ulcers, our first reaction is to go to the pharmacy to buy medicines. It is recommended that you first explain your situation to the pharmacist because many of the same medicines are available in various formulations such as capsules, tablets, and oral liquids, which are designed to meet the needs of different users. For example, Huoxiang Zhengqi, which is commonly available in the market as Huoxiang Zhengqi water and Huoxiang Zhengqi soft capsules. Huoxiang Zhengqi water, which contains ethanol, takes effect faster, but when choosing it, be careful to avoid taking cephalosporin antibiotics to prevent disulfiram-like reactions (weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, hallucinations, flushing, headache, nausea).
People with underlying medical conditions should pay attention to contraindications when purchasing over-the-counter drugs. For example, diabetic patients should control their daily dosage when taking honey pill formulations. Different age groups also have corresponding types of formulations: the elderly and children may choose liquid formulations because they find it difficult to swallow tablets. At the same time, they should try to choose concentrated drugs to avoid affecting appetite after taking a large amount of medication; children can choose formulations with high sugar content.
