When it comes to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), many people may think that TCM must be boiled before drinking. However, this is incorrect. Not all TCM is suitable for boiling, as some may lose their medicinal properties and value. Let's take a look at the 5 types of TCM that are not suitable for boiling.
1. Precious Medicinal Herbs
Like Ginseng, Antler, Purple Coix Seed, Pearl Powder, and Cordyceps, these herbs contain active ingredients such as saponins, proteins, fats, and hormones. Due to the complex chemical structure of saponins and the instability of proteins, boiling may cause complex chemical changes that affect the therapeutic effects. To preserve their active ingredients without wasting the herbs, they should be ground into powder and taken with water.
2. Digestive Medicinal Herbs
Grains Sprouts, Malted Barley, and Chicken’s Gizzard, for example, contain active substances such as amylase, invertase, and proteinase. These substances are not heat-resistant, and boiling will reduce their activity and affect the therapeutic effects. For example, the efficacy of grain sprout decoction is only 5% of its dry powder, the digestive starch efficacy of malted barley decoction is about 1/3 of its dry powder, and the gastric hormone in chicken’s gizzard can promote gastric gland secretion but is easily destroyed by high heat. Therefore, these herbs are best taken raw or after light frying.
3. Aromatic Herbs
Fragrant Musk, Camphor, Borneol, Musk Mallow, and Benzoin, for instance, all contain active ingredients that are easily volatile at room temperature. Boiling them will result in the loss of almost all medicinal effects. Therefore, they are not suitable for decoctions and are better used in the form of pills, powders, or for external application.
4. Gum-like Medicinal Herbs
Dong Quai and Tortoise Shell, for example, are mostly high molecular substances that become viscous when dissolved in water. If boiled with other herbs, they may stick to the pot and burn. It is recommended to boil other herbs first, remove the residue, and then add the above herbs and stir until completely melted before consumption.
5. Anthelmintic Medicinal Herbs
Lei Wan, for example, loses its effectiveness when heated to 70℃. Therefore, when using Lei Wan to expel worms, it must be ground into powder and taken with water, otherwise it will have no effect.
These are the 5 types of TCM that are not suitable for boiling. It is best to take them in the form of powder or for external use.
