How to decoct Chinese medicine correctly?
Taking Chinese medicine is not as simple as taking Western medicine with warm water. Taking Chinese medicine requires decoction, paying attention to the cooking time and water usage. It is important to note that Chinese medicine should not be soaked in boiling water. So how to decoct Chinese medicine correctly?
How to decoct Chinese medicine correctly? How to cook Chinese medicine? How to decoct Chinese medicine correctly?
There are many things to pay attention to when decocting Chinese medicine. If the method is wrong, it will not only affect the efficacy of the medicine but also affect our health. Today, I want to introduce several points that must be paid attention to when decocting Chinese medicine. Let's learn together.
Avoid using boiling water to soak Chinese medicine before decoction
Some people are accustomed to soaking the medicinal materials in boiling water before decoction, thinking that this can shorten the cooking time and maximize the dissolution of active ingredients in Chinese medicine. However, this is actually a lack of scientific understanding. Boiling water should not be used to soak Chinese medicine.
When the protein in Chinese medicine encounters boiling water, it will coagulate due to sudden heating, causing the cell wall to harden and form a tight membrane on the surface, hindering the full dissolution of internal ingredients. High molecular substances in Chinese medicine can easily form colloids after boiling water, which is not conducive to the permeation of active ingredients. When Chinese medicine is cut and crushed, the remaining powder on the surface will gelatinize due to sudden heating, blocking the capillary channels of the medicinal materials, making it difficult for water to penetrate and the components to dissolve and diffuse outward, ultimately affecting the extraction of components. Aromatic Chinese medicines, such as mint, perilla, clove, cardamom, etc., contain volatile oils and volatile substances that can easily evaporate when heated. Therefore, boiling water should not be used to soak them, and they should be added later during decoction.
Generally speaking, Chinese medicine is soaked in cold water before decoction, for about 30 minutes. However, experiments have shown that the most suitable water temperature for soaking Chinese medicine is 40°C to 50°C. This condition not only ensures that the medicinal materials are fully moistened and expanded, but also improves the extraction rate of active ingredients.
Should the decoction of Chinese medicine be covered?
To fully decoct sliced Chinese medicine and fully extract the active ingredients, it is better to cover the pot during decoction. Especially for the decoction of Chinese medicines containing volatile components, such as mint, patchouli, cardamom, it is better to cover the pot. This can make the water vapor containing volatile components condense inside the lid and drip back into the pot, thereby reducing the loss of active ingredients in the medicine.
For most solid roots, seeds, or animal medicines, such as ginseng, astragalus, polygonatum, ophiopogon, schisandra, clam, dragon bone, oyster shell, etc., covering the pot during decoction can extract more active ingredients in a limited time, thereby improving the efficacy of the medicine.
For loose and bulky Chinese medicines, such as luffa vine, communis, polyporus, chrysanthemum, mulberry leaf, etc., the pot should not be covered during decoction because the decoction is prone to overflow. Stirring should be done occasionally to ensure even decoction.
Correct method of decoction
Decocting Chinese medicine correctly can maximize the efficacy of the medicine. If you make a mistake, it will affect the efficacy of the medicine and even cause a significant loss of effectiveness. So how should Chinese medicine be decocted?
How to decoct Chinese medicine correctly? How to cook Chinese medicine? How to decoct Chinese medicine correctly?
1. Choice of container
The best containers for decoction are ceramic and clay pots, followed by stainless steel pots, enamel pots, and heat-resistant glass containers. These containers have stable chemical properties and are not easily react with the ingredients in the decocted Chinese medicine. Iron pots, copper pots, and aluminum pots should be avoided as these elements can react with certain components in Chinese medicine, which is not conducive to the treatment of diseases.
2. Pre-processing
Step 1: "Inspect"
Before decoction, you should first check the quality of the Chinese medicine. If there are problems such as wormholes or mildew, they should be dealt with in a timely manner. Then, check if there are any Chinese medicines that require special treatment. If so, set them aside and treat them according to special methods.
Step 2: "Soak"
Soak the Chinese medicinal materials purchased from the pharmacy in an appropriate amount of water for 20 to 30 minutes. The soaking time should be shorter for lightweight Chinese medicines or in high temperatures, and longer for heavyweight Chinese medicines or in low temperatures. The purpose is to moisten and soften the Chinese medicines, making it easier for the active ingredients to be decocted.
3. Decoction
1. Water for decoction: In general, as long as the tap water used is not contaminated, do not repeatedly use boiled water or water that has been boiled overnight to decoct Chinese medicine.
2. Amount of water: The empirical amount of water is to exceed the surface of the medicine by 3 to 5 cm; the theoretical calculation is to use 10 mL of water for every 1 g of Chinese medicine, with 70% of the total water used for the first decoction and the remaining 30% used for the second decoction.
3. Fire for decoction: In general, the principle of "high heat first, low heat later" should be followed, which means using high heat before boiling to quickly bring the water to a boil, and then switching to low heat to maintain a gentle boil to reduce water evaporation.
