Nowadays, people are a bit lazy when it comes to decocting medicine. They simply add the required amount of water all at once. However, it is important to let the boiled water cool down before using it for decoction. Additionally, different methods of adding water should be used for different prescriptions!
【Three Methods of Adding Water for Decoction】
1. Weight-based Method:
This method involves determining the amount of water to add based on the total weight of the medicine. To ensure that the medicine can exert its maximum efficacy, take one dose of the prepared Chinese medicine and weigh it. Then, follow the principle of adding 10 milliliters of water for every gram of Chinese medicine. Add 65% of the calculated total amount of water to the first decoction, and reserve the remaining 35% for the second decoction.
For example, for the nourishing and tonifying medicine "Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang," with a total weight of 150 grams, the amount of water to add should be 1500 milliliters. Thus, 65% of this amount, which is 975 milliliters, should be added to the first decoction, and the remaining 35%, which is 525 milliliters, should be reserved for the second decoction. This method ensures accurate water measurement, especially for complex prescriptions with multiple types of medicine and larger quantities.
2. Traditional Method:
Place the Chinese medicine in a sand pot and spread it out evenly with your hand. Then, add water that is about 3 to 4 centimeters above the level of the medicine (about the height of your pinky finger). This method is the simplest and most commonly used, but it may have slightly less accuracy.
3. Measuring Instrument Method:
This method involves using a measuring cup or cylinder to add water according to different therapeutic medicines, as well as the first and second decoctions.
Some pharmaceutical companies have specified the amount of water to add for different types of decoction: for nourishing and tonifying medicines, add 700-900 milliliters for the first decoction and 400-450 milliliters for the second decoction; for general medicines (mainly used to treat various diseases), add 500-700 milliliters for the first decoction and 300-350 milliliters for the second decoction; for medicines that relieve cold symptoms, add 400-600 milliliters for the first decoction and 280-300 milliliters for the second decoction.
To ensure that the medicine can exert its maximum efficacy, this method is more accurate than the traditional method. However, if there is a large quantity of medicine, the amount of water added may be less.
【Decoction Time】
1. Pre-soaking: Soak the medicine before the first decoction (usually for 30 minutes, but for medicines mainly composed of seeds or fruits, soaking for one hour is recommended). For subsequent decoctions, soaking is not necessary. The water level for the first decoction should be 2-5 centimeters above the medicine, and the water level for the second decoction should cover the medicine.
2. Number of decoctions: Generally, two decoctions are needed. One long decoction cannot replace two separate decoctions.
3. Cooking intensity: Use high heat (strong fire) before boiling, and switch to low heat (gentle fire) after boiling to maintain a simmering state. For medicines that relieve external symptoms or have aromatic properties, it is advisable to use high heat for quick decoction to prevent volatilization and decrease in efficacy. For nourishing and tonifying medicines, it is preferable to use low heat for long decoction to fully extract the effective components.
4. Cooking time: For general medicines, the first decoction should be simmered for 20-25 minutes after boiling, and the second decoction should be simmered for 15-20 minutes after boiling. For medicines that relieve external symptoms or have aromatic properties, the first decoction should be simmered for 10-15 minutes, and the second decoction for 10 minutes. For nourishing and tonifying medicines, the first decoction should be simmered for 30-40 minutes, and the second decoction for 25-30 minutes.
Decoction time is not always longer for better results; it depends on the nature of the Chinese medicine, the condition being treated, and the characteristics of the medicine itself.
