We all know that when seeing a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor, they rarely prescribe patent medicines, but mostly focus on prescribing Chinese herbal medicines. This is because Chinese herbal medicines can be tailored to the patient's constitution and condition. However, many people choose to have their herbs pre-boiled, which means that the herbs are boiled in the hospital and then taken home to drink. While pre-boiled TCM is convenient, there are many disadvantages and precautions to consider.
The disadvantages of pre-boiled TCM
1. Difficult to determine the cooking time for different types of herbs
Pre-boiled TCM is convenient for patients, but it also raises concerns about the efficacy and treatment requirements. Different types of herbs require different cooking times. For example, minerals, tonics, and toxic herbs should be cooked for a longer time or cooked first, while herbs that release exterior symptoms or have volatile substances should be lightly cooked or cooked for a shorter time. However, many pharmacies and even hospital staff who pre-boil TCM are not professional pharmacists, making it difficult to accurately determine the cooking time and temperature based on the nature of the herbs, which can affect the efficacy. In this regard, even if the doctor's diagnosis and prescription are accurate, if the herbs are not properly cooked, it can also affect the effectiveness of the treatment.
2. Difficult to control the dosage of pre-boiled TCM
Pre-boiled TCM cannot meet the requirements of individualized treatment as the dosage of the herbs cannot be adjusted according to the patient's needs. For certain conditions, doctors may require a larger dosage of the herbal decoction, while for others, a smaller dosage may be needed. Additionally, pre-boiled TCM is often packaged in plastic bags. Although the packaging is sterilized at high temperatures, it is not aseptic, and storing the herbal decoction for a week or 10 days, even in the refrigerator, can easily lead to spoilage and loss of efficacy.
Precautions
1. Take it after boiling
Many patients have weak spleen and stomach functions and are sensitive to temperature changes. Pre-boiled TCM is usually stored in the refrigerator. If the pre-boiled TCM is heated in hot water for consumption, it is easy for the herbal decoction to be insufficiently heated or unevenly heated, which can have adverse effects on the patient's spleen and stomach. In addition, the herbal bags should not be boiled in hot water or heated directly in the microwave before consumption to avoid accidents. Therefore, when taking the pre-boiled herbal decoction, it is important to boil it again before consumption to ensure the best therapeutic effect.
2. Pay attention to the storage time in the refrigerator
The herbal decoction should be stored in a refrigerator at 0-5°C and should not be stored in the freezer, as this can cause the precipitation of active ingredients and the bursting of the herbal bags when the decoction freezes. The herbal decoction should not be stored for more than 10 days. If the bag is swollen or the decoction has an unusual odor, it may have spoiled and should not be consumed. If the herbal decoction has been opened or prepared at home, it is generally not recommended to be consumed the next day. If stored in the refrigerator, it should not be kept for more than two days to avoid spoilage and loss of efficacy.
3. Be cautious with swollen bags
Some herbs, such as centipedes, scorpions, wolfberries, astragalus, codonopsis, and cooked rehmannia, are rich in nutrients such as starch, sugar, protein, and fat, and can undergo chemical changes during storage. If the herbal bag is swollen, the decoction becomes viscous, the color is abnormal, or there are signs of mold or a sour smell, it should not be used.
