The method of decocting Chinese medicine is very important, and if you don't pay attention to many details, it can easily affect the efficacy. Therefore, before decocting Chinese medicine, you must first understand the correct method of decocting Chinese medicine. Here, let's answer the most common questions together.
Do you need to cover the pot when decocting Chinese medicine?
In order to fully decoct the sliced Chinese medicine and extract the active ingredients, it is better to cover the pot when decocting. Especially when the decocting medicine contains components that can volatilize with water vapor, such as peppermint, tangerine peel, and sandalwood, it is best to cover the pot. This can cause the water vapor containing the volatile components of the medicine to condense inside the lid and drip back into the medicine pot, thereby reducing the loss of active ingredients.
For most solid herbs, seeds, or animal medicines, such as ginseng, astragalus, polygonatum, dwarf lilyturf, schisandra, haliotis, dragon bone, and oyster shell, they should also be covered when decocting to extract more active ingredients within a limited time, thus improving the efficacy of the medicine.
For loose and large Chinese medicines, such as loofah vine, phragmites, fuling, chrysanthemum flower, and mulberry leaf, it is not necessary to cover the pot when decocting because the liquid may overflow. Stirring should be done continuously to ensure even decoction.
In addition, it is also important to note that the decoction of Chinese medicine should not be too concentrated.
Why Chinese medicine should not be decocted too concentrated
1. When decocting medicine, the active ingredients of the medicine seep into the liquid from the medicine. When the decoction reaches a certain time and the liquid reaches a certain concentration, the active ingredients will stop being released. Continuing to decoct will not increase the concentration of the medicine.
2. Some medicines will continuously volatilize and lose active ingredients when decocted for a long time, such as medicines used for relieving surface symptoms. The longer the decoction time, the more volatilization and the lower the efficacy of the medicine.
3. If the medicine is too concentrated, it will taste more bitter and may cause adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting.
Four things to note when decocting Chinese medicine
1. Pre-soaking before decoction
Generally, soak the medicine in cold water until it is fully soaked before decocting, so that the active ingredients are easy to extract. Generally, soaking for about 30 minutes is sufficient, but it should also be treated differently based on the texture of the herbs, the weight, the season, and the temperature. Flowers, herbs, and leaves can be soaked for 20 minutes; roots, stems, seeds, fruits, minerals, and shellfish herbs should be soaked for 30-60 minutes. In general, soak the herbs until they are fully soaked.
2. Selection of utensils for decoction
The choice of decoction container is closely related to the quality of the decoction. It is generally believed that "silver is the best, followed by ceramics". It is not recommended to use pots made of tin, iron, and other metals for decoction. Some medicines may precipitate and reduce their solubility when they come into contact with tin, iron, and other metals, and even cause chemical changes and side effects. Currently, it is recommended to use ceramic or earthen pots instead of iron pots, copper pots, aluminum pots, stainless steel pots, and enamel containers to ensure the efficacy of Chinese medicine.
3. Selection of water for decoction
Water is the most commonly used solvent for decocting Chinese herbal medicine. Generally, clean cold water such as tap water, well water, and distilled water should be used. The amount of water used should be determined based on the weight, volume, water absorption capacity of the medicine, decoction time, heat, and required dosage. Generally, it is advisable to have the water cover the herbs by about half an inch. The amount of water used for decoction should be sufficient at one time, without adding water in the middle, and the decoction should not be reboiled after the medicine has dried up.
4. Decoction time
Decoction of Chinese herbal medicine is divided into "strong fire" and "gentle fire". The initial high heat is called "strong fire", and the subsequent low heat is called "gentle fire". Different prescriptions require different decoction times. For treating exterior symptoms, such as sweating and relieving surface symptoms, the decoction time should be short, while for treating deficiency syndrome, nourishing herbs should be decocted for a longer time.
