Nowadays, many people use modern appliances such as induction cookers to boil traditional Chinese medicine. However, experts point out that when preparing traditional Chinese medicine at home, it is best to use open fire ignited by firewood, charcoal, or gas stoves.
Traditional Chinese medicine experts explain that traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the method of "cooking with both water and fire". Although modern appliances like induction cookers and microwaves can provide the same heat as open fire, they may cause varying degrees of damage to the effective ingredients of the herbs.
In modern households, iron pots, non-stick pans, and stainless steel pots are commonly used. However, these utensils are not recommended for preparing traditional Chinese medicine. Clay pots that are authentic or produced in uncontaminated areas are preferred. In some areas with severe pollution, the sand pots produced there are also not suitable for boiling traditional Chinese medicine. This is because heavy metals in the utensils can be displaced by alkaloids or other chemical components in the medicine during the boiling process, which may then be ingested by patients and affect their health.
When preparing traditional Chinese medicine at home, it is advocated to choose authentic clay pots or sand pots produced in uncontaminated areas.
