Patients often ask, how to decoction of Chinese medicine? Should I wash it before frying? How much water to add? How long to boil? What does "fry before you serve" mean...... In the face of these questions, today we will introduce to you how to decoction Chinese medicine from the following aspects:
How to choose a decoction tool?
It is best to use casserole, clay pot, enamel pot or stainless steel utensils for decoction, which are chemically stable and will not react chemically with the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. Pay attention to avoid the use of iron, copper, aluminum and other metal utensils, so as to avoid chemical reactions, reduce the efficacy, and produce side effects.
Do Chinese herbal decoction pieces need to be cleaned?
The decoction pieces issued by the Chinese medicine blending are all processed and concocted, all of which meet the standards stipulated in the pharmacopoeia, and do not need to be cleaned, so as to avoid the loss of water-soluble ingredients in the decoction pieces and affect the curative effect.
Do I need to soak before decoction?
Before decoction, the Chinese medicine should be soaked in cold water for about 30 minutes, and the amount of water soaked should be 3-5 cm higher than the surface of the medicine, so as to facilitate the decoction of the active ingredients. (Flowers, grasses, and leaves can be soaked for 20 minutes; Roots, stems, fruits, ores, and crustacean herbs can be soaked for a slightly longer time, which can be appropriately extended to 30-60 minutes)
The basic steps of decoction
1. Decoction heat: The principle of "first martial fire and then simmering" should be followed, that is, first martial fire (rapid fire) decoction, and then switch to simmering (slow fire) to maintain a slightly boiling state.
2. Decoction time and method: After the herbs are soaked, start decoction directly, finally filter out the liquid medicine, and mix the liquid medicine evenly after two decoctions. (If there is a special decoction method, decoction according to the requirements)
3. The number of decoctions: generally decoction 2 times, a pair of Chinese medicine after decoction twice, the active ingredients contained in the active ingredients have been greatly reduced, so it is better to decoction twice.
4. How to take: After decoction, filter out the decoction in time, and mix the decoction each time, the liquid should be kept at 250-300ml, and children can concentrate to 100-200ml according to the actual situation. The decoction is generally taken once a day, divided into 2-3 doses, with an interval of 4-6 hours, and whether it is taken before or after meals depends on the location and nature of the disease. (Generally speaking, if the disease is on the scorch, it is advisable to take it one hour after eating; If you are sick, you should take it one hour before meals; Tonic and laxatives should be taken on an empty stomach; Tranquilizers should be taken before bedtime; Medicines that stimulate the stomach and intestines should be taken after meals)
Introduction to special frying methods
1. First decoction: first decoction of other medicinal materials over high heat for 30-60 minutes, and then add other medicines to cook together, mainly used for some drugs whose active ingredients are insoluble in water.
2. Backward down: You need to put the medicine in 5-10 minutes before the second decoction out of the pan, mainly for aromatic drugs,
3. Wrapping decoction: It is advisable to pack it in a gauze bag first, and then decoction with other medicines, mainly used for drugs with strong adhesion, powder and fluff, so as to prevent the mixing of liquid medicine from irritating the throat and causing cough and sinking to the bottom of the pot, and causing charring or gelatinization when heated.
4. Another decoction: It needs to be stewed separately for 1-2 hours, and then mixed with other medicinal liquids, mainly used for some valuable drugs, so as to better decoction of the active ingredients.
5. Calming: It is advisable to heat and melt with hot water or decoction alone, mainly used for glue and viscous and easily soluble drugs, to avoid entering the decoction pan or sticking to other drugs to affect the decoction.
6. Preparation: Brew with decoction liquid or boiling water, mainly used for some valuable medicines, the dosage is light, and it is not suitable for heating and decoction.
※ Do not take medicine and food: Do not eat radish, strong tea, crab and raw, cold, greasy and spicy things during the period of taking medicine, and eat less rooster, konjac, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, seafood, and hot pot.
For example, Xu Lingti said in "The Theory of the Origin of Medicine": "The method of decoction is the most appropriate to talk deeply, and the effect of medicine is not effective, it all depends on this", which means that the decoction method of traditional Chinese medicine is directly related to the clinical efficacy. This is especially true for decoction of Chinese medicine at home, and the above details cannot be ignored, otherwise the efficacy of the medicine will be greatly reduced.