How to decoct medicine

The quality of traditional Chinese medicine decoction is closely related to the selected decocting instruments. It is better to use casserole now, because the material of casserole is relatively stable, it will not react chemically with pharmaceutical ingredients, and the heat transfer is even and moderate, which is one of the reasons why it has been used since ancient times. In addition, enamel pot, stainless steel pot and glass frying pan can also be selected. Iron and copper pots can't be used, mainly because of their unstable chemical properties and easy oxidation. When decocting, it can react with the chemical components contained in traditional Chinese medicine, for example, it can react with tannic acid to generate iron tantalate, which will deepen the color of the liquid medicine. It can form insoluble polymers with flavonoids. It can form salts with organic acids. All these will affect the quality of decoction and directly affect the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine decoction.

Boiling water quantity

The amount of water added in decoction is also very important, which directly affects the quality of decoction. Less water will cause incomplete decoction and incomplete extraction of effective components. More water is added, and more liquid medicine is decocted, which makes it inconvenient for patients to take medicine. Due to the different textures of Chinese herbal medicines, their water absorption is also different, and the water addition is generally controlled at 5- 10 times. Drugs with the same weight are loose in texture, large in volume and naturally absorb more water. If the texture is solid, the volume is small and the water absorption is small. Therefore, flowers, leaves and whole grass should be fried in more water. Use less boiled minerals and shellfish medicine. According to the traditional method of adding water, the medicine is put into a pot, and the amount of water added for the first decoction is 3-5 cm above the surface of the medicine, and that for the second decoction is 3 cm above the surface of the medicine. This method of adding water is simple and easy to master.

Problems needing attention in decocting medicine

1. Soak before decocting:

Be sure to soak in water before decocting, because most Chinese medicines in plants are dry. Soaking in water can soften the drug, and the tissue cells will expand and return to the natural state, so that the effective components can be easily leached when decocting. Generally, flowers, leaves and stems are the main drugs, and the soaking time is 1- 1.5 hours. The soaking time of roots, seeds, rhizomes and fruits is 2-3 hours.

2. Decocting times:

The effect of multiple decoctions is better than that of one long decoction. Practice has proved that about 80% of the ingredients in the decoction can be decocted twice, preferably twice or three times.

3. Decocting temperature:

The temperature of decoction is called "fire" in traditional Chinese medicine, which is usually called "slow fire" or "fierce fire". The so-called slow fire is a slight fire, the temperature rises slowly and the water evaporates slowly. The so-called violent fire is a big fire, the temperature rises quickly and the water evaporates quickly. If the cooking time is too fierce, the water will evaporate quickly, which will affect the leaching of effective components and easily paste the pot. On the contrary, if the temperature is weak, the decocting effect will be poor. Generally, large fire is used before boiling, and then slow fire is used after boiling, which can slow down the evaporation of water and is beneficial to the decoction of effective components.

4. Decocting time:

It depends on the nature of the main drugs and diseases and the situation of the drugs. Generally, the first frying takes 20-30 minutes, and the second frying takes 30-40 minutes. The medicine for treating cold should be boiled for 10- 15 minutes, and then boiled for 15-20 minutes. Decocting for 30-40 minutes for the first time and 40-50 minutes for the second time.

5. The amount of liquid medicine retained:

Generally, it refers to the amount of liquid medicine after one dose of medicine is decocted twice. Adults take 400-600 ml twice a day. Children take 200-300ml twice or three times a day.

6. Method of taking medicine:

Generally, one dose of medicine is decocted twice, and then mixed with the liquid medicine and taken twice. Children can take it 2-3 times. Drugs for cold, fever, enteritis and diarrhea can also be taken frequently, that is, once every 4 hours, 30-40ml each time, and once the illness is cured, take it 2-3 times a day. It is better for children to eat several times.

7, special medicine decoction:

Doctors will prescribe drugs with footnotes according to the patient's condition and the nature of the drugs.

(1) decoct soup first: generally, some minerals, shells and keratin drugs are used. Because its effective components are difficult to decoct, decoct for 30-40 minutes first, and then mix with other drugs before decocting. Common gypsum, raw keel, mother of pearl, raw ochre, etc. In addition, toxic drugs can be decocted first and then decocted for a long time to reduce or detoxify. For example, aconitine can be decomposed into aconitine after long-term decoction, and its toxicity is only 1/2000. If aconite is decocted for a long time, it can not only reduce toxicity, but also increase cardiotonic effect.

(2) After taking the medicine: generally, the medicine with aromatic smell and volatile oil or difficult to be decocted for a long time should be put into the pot 10- 15 minutes before decocting. Common ones are Pogostemon cablin, Uncaria rhynchophylla and rhubarb. For example, if the alkaloid contained in Uncaria rhynchophylla is decocted for more than 20 minutes, its antihypertensive components will be easily destroyed. Rhubarb, a component with purgative and heat-clearing effects, is rhein, but it is unstable to heat and will decompose when heated for a long time. The purgative effect of rhein is stronger than that of aglycone, and it is not easy to be decocted for a long time, so the method of "reverse buckle" is often used.

(3) Decocting: Generally, seeds and single pollen medicine are wrapped in gauze, and a group of medicines are decocted together. Common ones are plantain seeds, Inula flowers and so on. For example, plantain seeds are easily gelatinized and coked. So it needs to be fried. Stir-fried Inula can prevent fluff from falling off and mix it with soup to stimulate the throat.

(4) Dissolution: Dissolve the medicine in hot water and take it. Common drugs are sodium sulfate and mirabilite.

(5) Dissolution: Mainly some gum drugs are taken after being dissolved in hot water. If the mixed decoction will make the liquid medicine viscous and affect the leaching of other components, the glue medicine will also lose to some extent, so the method of taking it separately is adopted. Common raw donkey-hide gelatin, antler glue and tortoise plastron glue.

(6) Stir-fry separately. Some expensive medicines should be decocted separately and then mixed together. Common ginseng, American ginseng, velvet antler and so on.

(7) When taking orally, some valuable powders cannot be decocted with ingredients. Generally, it is taken orally, that is, the powder is dissolved in the liquid medicine. This not only helps to play the role of drugs, but also saves medicinal materials. The common ones are Sanqi noodles, antelope horn noodles and bezoar noodles.

Pay attention to the choice of utensils, the amount of water, the time and temperature of decocting Chinese medicine, etc. It takes patience and care to decoct Chinese medicine. If you want to fry a pair of Chinese medicine, you should pay attention, so that you can eat good medicine.