Three Tips for Brewing Chinese Herbal Medicine
1. Clean the Medicine Pot
When brewing Chinese herbal medicine, the herbal solution will become concentrated due to water evaporation, leaving a layer of residue at the bottom and sides of the pot. If the medicine pot is not cleaned after each use, the residue can dissolve and interfere with the effectiveness of the new batch of medicine, and even worsen the condition. This is especially true if the pot has been used to cook potent or topical medicines that are not meant for ingestion, as it can lead to poisoning.
Moreover, if the residue is not cleaned promptly, it will accumulate and become thicker, making it easy to burn and lose the effectiveness of the medicine when brewing again.
2. Cover or Uncover Depending on the Medicine
In general, it is best to cover the pot when brewing Chinese herbal medicine to ensure thorough extraction. This is especially important for herbs that contain volatile components, such as mint, patchouli, and perilla leaves, which need to be brewed quickly to prevent the loss of active ingredients. For valuable herbs like ginseng, deer antler, and wolfberry, covering the pot helps release the active ingredients fully.
However, some lightweight herbs with large volumes, such as moneywort, summer cypress, white mulberry root bark, loofah vine, and corn silk, should not be covered during brewing as they may overflow. These herbs should be brewed with the pot uncovered, and stirring should be done regularly.
3. Brew Thoroughly and Drain Completely
"Brewing thoroughly" means ensuring that the active ingredients of the herbs are fully extracted, which is a basic requirement for brewing medicine. For herbs with tough textures that are difficult to extract, additional steps such as decocting or boiling for a longer time are necessary to achieve a concentrated herbal solution and maximize the effectiveness of the medicine. For herbs with loose textures and light flavors, they do not need to be brewed for a long time. However, for large and lightweight herbal materials, regular stirring is necessary to ensure thorough extraction.
"Draining completely" means squeezing out as much herbal solution as possible after the brewing process. Some herbal materials have porous textures and strong water absorption. If they are not thoroughly drained, a significant amount of herbal solution may be discarded along with the herbal residue, affecting the effectiveness of the medicine.
Warning: Do Not Use Induction Cookers for Brewing Chinese Herbal Medicine
Many people nowadays use induction cookers and other modern electrical appliances for brewing Chinese herbal medicine. However, experts point out that it is best to use open flame from firewood, charcoal, or gas stoves, or specialized herbal cooking utensils for brewing Chinese herbal medicine at home. Using induction cookers can affect the effectiveness of the medicine. Why does using induction cookers affect the effectiveness of the medicine?
Chinese herbal medicine emphasizes the principle of "cooking with both water and fire." Although modern household appliances such as induction cookers and microwave ovens can generate the same heat as open flame, they can cause varying degrees of damage to the active ingredients of the herbal materials.
Most modern households use iron pots, non-stick pans, and stainless steel pots. However, it is best not to choose these utensils for brewing Chinese herbal medicine. Pots made in heavily polluted areas should also be avoided, as heavy metals in these utensils can be leached out by the alkaloids or other chemical components in the medicine during the brewing process, which can be harmful when ingested by patients and affect their health.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the time and utensils used for brewing herbal medicine are important. When brewing at home, it is recommended to use authentic clay pots or sand pots produced in uncontaminated regions to ensure the effectiveness of the medicine. Avoid using induction cookers, iron pots, and stainless steel pots for brewing Chinese herbal medicine.
