The quality of the decoction of traditional Chinese medicine directly affects the efficacy of the medicine. Here are some points to note in order to correctly prepare the medicine and maximize its efficacy without any toxic side effects.
Utensils
It is best to use a sand pot for decocting Chinese medicine. The sand pot has good heat conductivity, even heat distribution, and is less prone to boiling over. It also has the advantages of insulation, convenience, and low cost. More importantly, the sand pot is composed of silicate, which has stable chemical properties. It is important to avoid using iron, copper, aluminum, and other containers for decocting Chinese medicine. These containers have more reactive metal properties and can undergo chemical changes with certain components of the medicine, affecting the content of the medicinal ingredients and reducing or eliminating the effectiveness of the medicine.
Water quality
The choice of water for decocting Chinese medicine is very important. According to the experience of ancient medical experts, for diseases related to the limbs, water from flowing streams is preferred; for problems with bowel movements, water from fast-flowing streams is preferred; for phlegm retention, water from reverse flow is preferred; for fever and yang patterns, snow water is preferred; for insufficient vital energy, spring rainwater is preferred. However, it is difficult to follow these guidelines now, and most people use tap water. In remote areas, well water may be used, and mineral water is even better.
Water quantity
The amount of water used directly affects the extraction of the active ingredients of the medicine. In principle, the water added for the first decoction should be 3-5 centimeters above the surface of the medicine, and for the second decoction, it should be 2-3 centimeters above. However, it also depends on whether the medicine absorbs water. For plants' branches, leaves, and stems, which are easy to absorb water, more water can be added. On the other hand, roots, minerals, and animal shells do not easily absorb water, so less water can be added.
Soaking
For decocting, it is generally recommended to use fresh water, or room temperature water in winter, but not boiling water. Soaking time should be around 30 minutes, but the specific soaking time should also depend on the herbs used. For roots, stems, fruits, mineral medicines, and animal organs, longer soaking times are acceptable. However, for flowers and leaves, shorter soaking times are needed.
Timing
Nowadays, decocting Chinese medicine is usually done with natural gas, so mastering the cooking time is crucial. The general rule is to apply strong heat before boiling and weak heat after boiling. The aim is to achieve a strong and vigorous boiling without causing any damage, and a gentle simmering without being too slow. As a guideline, the first decoction should be cooked for 20-30 minutes, and the second decoction for 15-20 minutes. After decocting, the two batches of medicine should be mixed together, and the resulting liquid should be consumed in 2-3 doses.
Order
Due to the specific characteristics of the medicinal herbs, some need to be decocted first, such as minerals like gold and stone, and shellfish. Some need to be added later, such as leaves, flowers, and hook vines. Some need to be wrapped in a cloth bag during decoction to avoid irritating the throat or to facilitate the extraction of medicinal ingredients. Some gelatinous medicines need to be stewed and dissolved before being added to the decoction. Expensive medicines should be separately decocted and then mixed for consumption to avoid wastage.
