There are many Chinese herbal medicines with good nourishing effects, so many people are willing to nourish their bodies by drinking Chinese herbal medicine. Using Chinese herbal medicine to regulate the body is a good choice, but attention should be paid to the methods of decoction and consumption. So, what should be paid attention to when decocting and consuming nourishing Chinese herbal medicines?
【6 details to pay attention to when decocting and consuming nourishing Chinese herbal medicines】
1. Choose appropriate utensils
The utensils for decocting herbal medicine should be ceramic pots, clay pots, or enamel containers. Metal utensils such as iron, tin, and aluminum are all prohibited.
2. Balance water and fire
Water refers to the amount of water, and fire refers to the degree of heat. When decocting nourishing Chinese herbal medicines, put the herbs into the pot and add enough water to cover the herbs. The amount of water for the first decoction should be about 2 centimeters above the herbs, and for the second decoction, it should be about 0.5 centimeters above the herbs. Generally, soak the herbs for 20-30 minutes, then simmer over low heat for 40-60 minutes for the first decoction, and simmer for about 40 minutes for the second decoction.
3. Distinguish the types of decoctions
When decocting tonic medicines, if the medicine contains bone and shell tonic medicines such as turtle plastron, dragon bone, turtle shell, tiger bone, and deer antler, they should be crushed and decocted for 30-40 minutes before adding other medicines. However, herbs for regulating and nourishing, such as astragalus, codonopsis, and polygonum multiflorum, should be simmered over low heat for 1 hour and then decocted again to avoid wasting the herbs. Gelatinous and easily soluble medicines such as donkey-hide gelatin and deer antler gel should be simmered in the residue-free liquid or stirred while hot to dissolve them, so as to prevent them from sticking and scorching when decocted with other medicines. Some precious medicines should be decocted separately. For example, ginseng should be sliced into small pieces and placed in a covered bowl, and stewed for 2-3 hours in a water bath. Alternatively, it can be ground into juice or fine powder and taken orally.
4. Cover the pot tightly
To ensure that the medicine is thoroughly decocted, the pot must be covered. Especially for valuable Chinese herbal medicines such as ginseng and deer antler, it is more important to cover the pot and simmer over low heat. Tonic medicines should be decocted 2 or 3 times, with each decoction yielding about 200-300 milliliters.
5. Timing is important
After the tonic medicine is decocted, the first decoction, second decoction, and third decoction should be mixed together. It is better to take it on an empty stomach in the morning or before going to bed at night. The medicine should not be left for more than 12 hours to prevent the loss of effective ingredients in the nourishing Chinese herbal medicine.
6. Pay attention to consumption methods
After the tonic medicine is decocted, the first decoction, second decoction, and third decoction should be mixed together. It is better to take it on an empty stomach in the morning or before going to bed at night for better therapeutic effects. The medicine should not be left for more than 12 hours to prevent the loss of effective ingredients. In addition, attention should be paid to dietary taboos during the medication period to avoid the influence of certain foods on the effectiveness of the tonic medicine.
The above are 6 details to pay attention to when decocting and consuming nourishing Chinese herbal medicines. If you want to regulate your body with Chinese herbal medicine, you should pay attention to these details in order to maximize the efficacy of the herbal medicine and achieve better results with less effort.
