There are many nuances to the process of decocting Chinese herbal medicine, such as which herbs to decoct first, which herbs to add later, and how long to decoct them for. Nowadays, many people are not familiar with the proper technique of decocting Chinese herbal medicine. Below, professionals will introduce some basic knowledge of decocting Chinese herbal medicine.
【The Correct Method of Decocting Chinese Herbal Medicine】
1. Pre-decoction
Cleaning: Generally, there is no need to clean before decoction. If there is any dirt or sand in the herbs, you can quickly rinse them with water, but avoid soaking them to prevent the loss of water-soluble components.
Soaking: Soak the herbs in cold water for about half an hour before decoction. This can extract the water-soluble components into the decoction and increase the concentration of the herbal soup.
2. During Decoction
Water: It is recommended to use water that covers the surface of the herbs by 2-3cm, or press the herbs gently with your hand so that the water level just reaches the back of your hand. Generally, some herbaceous plants absorb more water, so the water level may decrease after soaking for half an hour. In this case, you can add cold water to the standard water level before starting the decoction.
Heat: Generally, Chinese herbal medicine should be boiled with high heat first and then simmered with low heat. However, some Chinese herbal medicine for external application can be simmered with high heat for about 15 minutes after boiling.
Time: For general Chinese herbal medicine, the first decoction should last for 20-25 minutes, and the second decoction for 15-20 minutes; for Chinese herbal medicine for relieving external symptoms, the first decoction should last for 10-15 minutes, and the second decoction for 10 minutes; for Chinese herbal medicine for nourishing the body, the first decoction should last for 30-40 minutes, and the second decoction for 25-30 minutes.
Double decoction: After decocting a dose of Chinese herbal medicine twice, the concentration of the active ingredients has been greatly reduced, so it is best to decoct it twice. However, for Chinese herbal medicine for nourishing the body, it can be decocted three times. For some prescriptions with large doses, it can also be decocted three times.
3. After Decoction
Immediate filtration: After decocting the herbal soup, it should be filtered and poured out while hot, and it should not be left in the pot for too long. Otherwise, the herbal liquid with excessive colloids will coagulate when the temperature drops, making it difficult to filter and affecting the efficacy. It can also lead to souring.
4. Decoction Equipment
Clay pots and enamel pots are preferred: The best equipment for decoction is traditional clay pots, enamel pots, or stainless steel pots. Avoid using aluminum, iron, and copper pots to prevent reactions with the herbal medicine, which can affect the efficacy of the medicine and even harm the human body.
Friendly reminder: Pay attention to "decoct first, add later"
The purpose of "decoct first" is usually to increase the solubility of certain herbs or reduce the toxicity of the herbs. "Add later" is to reduce the loss of volatile oils and prevent the destruction of active ingredients.
Mineral-based herbs, such as shells and animal horns, should be decocted first because of their hard texture. For example, gypsum, cassia seeds, tortoise shells, and turtle shells can be crushed and decocted for 30 minutes before adding other herbs for decoction. Some toxic herbs, such as aconite, fuzi, and rhizoma homalomenae, must be decocted for 1-2 hours before they can achieve detoxification. In addition, some botanical drugs, such as gardenia, hemp seeds, and dendrobium, should be decocted for 10-30 minutes before they can take effect.
Herbs that are added later include those with a fragrant smell and high content of volatile oils, such as mint, patchouli, cardamom, and some herbs that should not be decocted for a long time, such as hook vine and almonds. They should be added to the pot 5-10 minutes before the decoction is finished.
【Two Points to Note When Decocting Chinese Herbal Medicine】
1. Decocting Chinese Herbal Medicine Longer Does Not Make It Stronger
In daily life, most people believe that the longer the decoction time, the stronger the effect of the Chinese herbal medicine will be. They think that the longer the decoction time, the more active ingredients will be extracted. However, this is not the case. Decoction of Chinese herbal medicine is the process of continuously releasing and dissolving the active ingredients in the herbs. Once the concentration of the active ingredients in the herbal liquid reaches a balance, the process stops. Continuously decocting the herbs will not further dissolve the active ingredients, but instead cause the evaporation and reduction of the active ingredients in the herbal liquid, and even lead to the destruction of the active ingredients in the high temperature for a long time, reducing the efficacy of the medicine.
Therefore, it is not the case that the longer the decoction time, the better. Different prescriptions have different requirements for the decoction time after boiling, and they should be followed according to the doctor's advice.
2. Discard Decoction with Sediments
The reason why Chinese herbal medicine can treat diseases lies in its content of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and other active ingredients. The purpose of decoction is to extract the active ingredients from the herbs to facilitate the treatment of diseases.
Whether the method of decoction is appropriate is closely related to its efficacy. If the decoction time is too short, the active ingredients in the herbs will not be extracted, which will affect the therapeutic effect. If the decoction time is too long, the active ingredients (such as volatile components) will be destroyed or lost, and the medicine will become murky. Once Chinese herbal medicine becomes murky, its characteristics will change. For example, the taste of nourishing herbs will change from sweet to bitter, and they will no longer have a nourishing effect. Blood-activating and stasis-resolving herbs will become herbs that have hemostatic effects. Most Chinese herbal medicine will have their active ingredients destroyed after becoming murky, and even produce the opposite effect. The cooling herbs cannot cool, and the nourishing herbs cannot nourish. Therefore, decoction with sediments should be discarded.
