The decoction is the earliest and most widely used dosage form in Chinese medicine clinics. The purpose of decoction is to transfer the active ingredients in the medicine, through physical and chemical action, into the soup liquid. A packet of Chinese medicine cannot simply be decocted with some water and that’s it, but also needs to pay attention to some principles, methods and conditions. Generally speaking, the following issues need to be noted: 1. Decoction apparatus: The quality of a Chinese herbal soup is closely related to the decoction apparatus chosen. It is recommended that a casserole is better because it is a stable material that does not react chemically with the drug ingredients and transfers heat evenly and gently, which is one of the reasons why it has been used since ancient times. Enamel pots, stainless steel pots and glass containers can also be used. But you can’t use iron or copper pots, mainly because the chemical properties of iron or copper pots are unstable and may react with the chemical components contained in the herbs when decocting them. 2. Soaking of herbs: Before decocting herbs, you should add an appropriate amount of cold water and soak them at room temperature for a period of time. In general, whole herbs, flowers, leaves, stems and skins should be soaked for about 20 minutes, while rhizomes, seeds, fruits, minerals and other quality firm herbs should be soaked for about 40 minutes. After soaking, the water can penetrate into the interior of the herb, which is conducive to the decoction of the active ingredients of the drug. After soaking, water should be added to 1-2 cm above the surface of the drug before decoction. 3, the decoction of the fire and time: decoction of the fire has a civil and martial. Wenhuo is the fire that makes the temperature rise and the water evaporate slowly; Wuhuo, also known as rapid fire, is the fire that makes the temperature rise and the water evaporate quickly. When decocting medicine, the water is usually boiled with martial fire first, and then slowly stewed with civil fire. The first decoction should be made of drugs whose active ingredients are difficult to decoct, such as minerals or animal bones and shells. After the decoction is boiled for about 20 minutes, then add drugs that smell fragrant and volatile or whose active ingredients are easily destroyed by heat, such as mint, sand, rhubarb, etc., and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Drugs that have fluffy hair and cause adverse irritation to the throat and digestive tract (e.g. Xingyi, Spirulina, etc.) should be decocted in packets. The decoction of table drugs and heat-clearing drugs, which mostly contain easily volatile ingredients, should be heated for a short time, so they should be decocted with martial fire, and then decocted for 5D10 minutes after boiling; for tonic drugs, the heating time should be long, and they need to be decocted slowly with civil fire, and they should continue to be decocted for another 30D60 minutes after boiling. The key is that the decoction must not be burnt, because the Chinese medicine may produce side effects after carbonization. Therefore, once the decoction is burnt, it should be thrown away immediately and should never be taken. A dose of Chinese medicine is usually decocted twice, it is best to filter each decoction with gauze and then combine the two decoctions to be served. 4. Scientific method of taking medicine: Usually, a dose of Chinese medicine decoction is served for 1 day, 2 times a day. Before taking, shake the decoction well and pour out an amount, warm it up with a gentle fire and take it 30 minutes before meals. Medicines that are stimulating to the gastrointestinal tract should be taken 60 minutes after meals. The scientific decoction method of Chinese herbal medicine is one of the important reasons to improve the efficacy of Chinese medicine and should be paid attention to.