【These 5 types of Chinese herbal medicines should not be boiled for a long time】
1. Gelatinous substances
Gelatin, turtle shell glue, and other gelatinous substances are mostly high-molecular-weight substances. If they are boiled together with other medicines, they are prone to sticking to the pot and becoming pasty. Therefore, it is best to dissolve these medicines separately and then mix them with the decoction.
2. Aromatic substances
Musk, borneol, camphor, frankincense, and other aromatic medicines have active ingredients that are highly volatile at room temperature. Once boiled, their medicinal effects will be greatly reduced. Therefore, they should not be boiled for a long time.
3. Digestive aids
Barley sprouts, malt, and rhizoma gastrodiae are digestive aids. The main active ingredients are amylase, invertase, and protein-degrading enzymes. These substances are not heat-resistant, and prolonged boiling will greatly reduce their activity and affect their effectiveness. Therefore, these medicines are best used in their raw form or lightly stir-fried and ground before consumption.
4. Anthelmintic medicines
Lei pills are anthelmintic medicines, and the main active ingredient is leimulin. When heated to 70°C, leimulin loses its activity. Therefore, lei pills must be taken as a decoction.
5. Tonics
Panax notoginseng, deer antler, purple coix seed, clam shell, caterpillar fungus, and other tonic Chinese herbal medicines contain saponins, proteins, fats, hormones, and other active ingredients. Due to the complex chemical structure of saponins and the instability of proteins, prolonged boiling can cause complex chemical changes that affect the effectiveness of the medicine. Therefore, these medicines should be taken as a decoction.
【Precautions for decocting and taking Chinese herbal medicines】
1. When simmering, avoid overflowing or drying out too quickly. The heat should be maintained at a level where the liquid seems to be simmering but not boiling.
2. Do not open the lid of the pot frequently when boiling the medicine, and do not pour out the liquid immediately after it is done to prevent the loss of medicinal vapors and the dissipation of volatile components.
3. The liquid should be warmed before each dose, and cold medicines should not be taken, unless in special circumstances.
4. Medicines like aconite must be boiled for at least one hour to remove their toxicity.
