"Doctor, should I take this medicine before or after meals? Are there any dietary restrictions?" At the window of the Chinese medicine dispensary in the hospital, patients constantly inquire about the basics of taking Chinese medicine. Experts explain that the usage of Chinese herbal formula includes the timing and method of administration. The method of administration should be determined based on the patient's condition and the nature of the medication. For example, for diseases above the diaphragm such as dizziness, headache, eye disorders, and sore throat, it is recommended to take the medicine after meals; for diseases below the diaphragm such as gastric, liver, and kidney disorders, it is recommended to take the medicine before meals. The specific methods of administration are as follows.
Timing of Administration
Before meals: Generally, Chinese herbal decoctions should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before meals, which is beneficial for the absorption of the medication. Except for diseases below the diaphragm, which should be taken before meals, some herbal decoctions that tonify the spleen and stomach should also be taken before meals. When taken on an empty stomach, the liquid can directly contact the gastrointestinal mucosa, avoiding the dilution of the medication by food and affecting its absorption and efficacy.
After meals: For diseases above the diaphragm, it is recommended to take the medicine after meals. For decoctions that may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to take them half an hour after meals. At this time, the food has not been completely digested, which can prevent the dilution of the medication by food and discomfort caused by the irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Medications that promote digestion should also be taken after meals to enhance gastrointestinal peristalsis or secretion of digestive fluids, facilitating food digestion. In addition, medications with high toxicity should also be taken after meals to avoid rapid absorption and potential toxic side effects.
On an empty stomach: Nourishing medicines that are greasy and may hinder digestion should be taken on an empty stomach to facilitate medication absorption. To ensure the rapid absorption and maintenance of high concentration in the body for vermifuge or purgative medications, they should also be taken on an empty stomach.
Before bedtime: Sedative medications should be taken before bedtime, generally 15 to 30 minutes before sleep, to ensure timely efficacy.
Special timing: Anti-malaria medications should be taken 2 to 3 hours before the onset of malaria to achieve the purpose of preventing malaria. For acute and critically ill patients, medication can be taken every 4 hours or so, continuously day and night, to maintain continuous medication and facilitate the control of the disease. For chronic diseases, medication must be taken at fixed times to maintain a relatively stable medication concentration in the body. For acute diseases, vomiting, convulsions, and diseases such as urolithiasis and throat disorders that require decoction instead of tea can be taken without a fixed schedule. For sweating and purgative medications, if the medication is strong, individual differences of patients should be considered. The dosage should be adjusted based on sweating or purgation, avoiding excessive dosage that may damage the body's vitality.
In summary, the timing of taking Chinese medicine should be determined based on the patient's condition and the nature of the medication, aiming to maximize the preventive and therapeutic effects of the medication while minimizing adverse reactions.
Methods of Administration
Many patients take Chinese herbal decoctions by boiling them once and taking them once. This method is not scientific. In the first decoction, water-soluble glycosides, polysaccharides, and other effective components in the herbal medicine are more abundant, while less soluble effective components are present in smaller amounts. In the second decoction, the water-soluble effective components are lower, while the less soluble effective components are relatively higher. This inconsistency in the concentration of effective components between the two decoctions results in significant differences in medicinal efficacy. Therefore, when taking Chinese medicine, the decoctions from 2 or 3 boiling sessions should be combined, stirred evenly, and divided into 2 or 3 portions for morning, afternoon, and evening administration, respectively, to enhance the therapeutic effect of the medication.
Dosage
Under strict adherence to the prescribed water volume, decoction temperature, and boiling time, the recommended dosage for adults is approximately 150 milliliters per administration, twice a day. For children, the recommended dosage is approximately 75 milliliters per administration, twice a day. The dosage should be adjusted for infants. When administering to children, the volume should be concentrated, and multiple small administrations should be preferred to prevent choking.
Temperature of Administration
There are five temperature categories: hot, warm, cold, single administration, and frequent administration.
Warm administration: Most decoctions are recommended to be taken at a warm temperature, especially for medications that may irritate the intestines and stomach. Warm administration can benefit the spleen and reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.
Hot administration: Decoctions for releasing external pathogens or treating cold syndromes should be taken while hot to enhance the therapeutic effect. Medications for dispelling cold and promoting blood circulation are best taken while hot.
Cold administration: Detoxifying medications, antiemetic medications, and heat-clearing medications are generally taken cold. Medications for true cold and false heat syndromes are best taken cold.
Single administration: For small doses of highly potent decoctions, they should be taken all at once to concentrate the medication's effect without harming the body's vitality. Examples include constipation-relieving and blood-activating medications.
Frequent administration: For patients with throat disorders or vomiting, frequent administration is recommended to slowly administer the medication, ensuring sufficient contact between the decoction and the affected area for quicker efficacy. For patients prone to nausea and vomiting, it is advisable to chew a slice of ginger or tangerine peel before taking the medication to prevent vomiting.
In addition, when using highly potent or toxic medications, it is advisable to gradually increase the dosage until it reaches the effective level, without exceeding the appropriate amount to avoid toxicity and harm to the body's vitality.
Restrictions on Administration
Many patients tend to overlook the restrictions on medication administration, which not only directly affects the efficacy of the medication but also affects the patient's recovery. During the course of taking Chinese medicine, attention should be paid to dietary restrictions.
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