【Precautions for storing Chinese medicine in summer】
Soak the herbs for no more than half an hour. Soaking the herbs before decoction helps to dissolve the effective ingredients and enhance their efficacy. However, it is important to note that different herbs require different soaking times. For example, flowers and herbs like saffron and Houttuynia cordata only need to be soaked for 15-20 minutes. Rhizome herbs like Zhebei mother and Chinese yam, which are rich in starch, require a slightly longer soaking time. However, most prescriptions consist of multiple herbs, so a "compromise" should be made. In other words, classify the herbs roughly and consider the characteristics of the majority of the herbs. Additionally, the soaking time for herbs varies with different seasons. For example, in spring and autumn, the soaking time is generally 30-60 minutes, in winter it should not exceed 60 minutes, and in hot summer, soaking the herbs for too long can cause them to deteriorate, so the soaking time should be controlled within 30 minutes.
Store the herbs for no more than one month. In a damp and hot environment, the herbs are prone to moisture and pests. Small packages of herbs can be placed in a well-ventilated and cool place, while fresh plant herbs and animal-based herbs should be individually packaged and stored in the refrigerator. Turtle oil, also known as "snow frog cream" in Guangdong, may deteriorate at room temperature in summer and should be stored in the freezer. Ginseng can be wrapped in rice paper and stored in a rice jar. In general, herbs should not be stored for more than one month in summer.
Warm reminder from Dr. 99: Chinese medicine in refrigeration should be "heated thoroughly". When heating, the herbal liquid should be steamed in a steamer or an electric rice cooker with water, instead of using a microwave oven. After taking out the bagged Chinese medicine from the refrigerator, it can be soaked in approximately 500 ml of hot water in a slightly larger container for 5 minutes, then change the water once to make the herbal liquid "heated thoroughly".
