The medicinal power and efficacy of Chinese medicine are closely related to the decoction method. Decoction casserole is best, should not use aluminum or iron pot. This is because when decocting, some herbal ingredients are prone to chemical reactions with metals that can change the nature of the drug and reduce its efficacy. Soak in water before decoction. Water has strong penetrating power to herbs and can dissolve active ingredients such as alkaloids glycosides, organic acids, tannins, proteins, sugars and inorganic salts in herbs, so it is the most commonly used solvents for decocting herbs. Natural cool water refers to cool unpolluted well water, river water, spring water and tap water, which is calm and tastes sweet. Before decocting, soak the medicine in water and add the amount of water that is 3cm above the surface of the medicine after the herbs are submerged. The most suitable soaking water temperature for Chinese herbs before decoction is 40℃-50℃. Through soaking, the water can slowly penetrate into the herbs’ tissues and make the structure loose and swollen, resulting in a good solubilization environment so that the active ingredients can be easily decocted. The soaking time depends on the herbs, such as 30 minutes for flowers, leaves and grasses with loose and frivolous texture; 1 hour for roots, stems and bark of plants grown for many years. Traditionally, the first decoction should be filled with water 3cm-5cm above the surface of the medicine, and the second decoction with water 1cm-2cm above the surface of the medicine. 300-500ml of water should be added to the first decoction of general medicine, and 250-300ml to the second decoction; more water should be added to the tonic medicine, 700-1000ml to the first decoction, and 400-600ml to the second decoction. 150ml of soup should be added to both decoctions, regardless of the medicine. Pay attention to the decoction of individual drugs before and after decoction. Some drugs require special decoction methods to achieve the desired effect. For example, mint, patchouli, hooked vine, pelargonium, and sand, etc., should be included when other drugs are about to be decocted and decocted for one or two boils; gypsum, dragon bone, oyster, ochre, magnet, mother-of-pearl, stone cassia, tortoise shell, etc., should be decocted for about half an hour before being decocted with other drugs; poisonous drugs such as epiphyllum and aconite should be decocted first in a separate package; spinach, loquat leaf, haijin sha, and mab, etc., should be decocted after being wrapped in cloth; syrup, etc., should be decocted after being wrapped in cloth. The decoction should be made after the cloth is wrapped; syrup and honey should be added after the medicine is decocted; gum, antler gum and tortoise shell gum should be taken after the medicine is decocted; rhinoceros horn, deer antler and panax ginseng should be finely grounded and taken with boiling water or medicine soup. Decoction should be properly controlled by fire. Use warm fire at the beginning of the decoction, and use low fire after boiling. The lid should not be removed frequently to prevent the smell from dispersing and to reduce the spillage of volatile components. Boil for 10-15 minutes for general drugs, and 30 minutes for tonic drugs, so that the active ingredients are fully decocted. The decoction time depends on the medicine, generally speaking, the first decoction is calculated from boiling for 20 to 25 minutes, while the second decoction is 15-20 minutes. If there are hard medicines such as minerals and shells, they must be broken up and decocted for 30 minutes first. Do not take the decoction. Some drugs contain volatile oil, once cooked, the loss of volatile oil, that is, the loss of effective sweating and antipyretic effect, and can produce toxicity, should be prohibited to take. Common special decoction method 1, first decoction: generally refers to the mineral shells of hard texture or active ingredients difficult to decoct drugs, toxic substances also need to be decocted first, such as aconite, aconite. Or according to the needs of the drug itself and the disease, some of the drugs in the formula are decocted first, such as ephedra in Ge Gen Tang. 2.Separate decoction: In order to avoid decoction of drugs to reduce the efficacy or reduce the side effects caused by the same decoction, sometimes the prescriptions are decocted separately and then combined to take or decocted again, such as Lily Zhi Mu Tang. 3.Wrapped decoction: certain herbs with hairy or tiny volume or high amount of mucus or easy to become paste after decoction are wrapped up and decocted, such as spinach, psyllium, etc. 4.Later down: drugs containing volatile oil or active ingredients that fail after a long decoction, such as peppermint, mullein, rhubarb, senna, etc., are usually added when the decoction is almost ready for a total of 4 minutes-5 minutes, such as decoction of licorice ephedra soup to be followed by licorice. 5, melt: some solidifying gum such as gum, antler gum, etc., its main components are colloidal protein, amino acids, calcium, when decocted with other drugs, easy to dissolve and adhere to other drugs or burnt pot, so into the soup should be melted to serve. That is, take the prescribed amount of gum herbs and add the appropriate amount of water to stew and close, then stir into the decoction and serve. The therapeutic effect of the medicine is often closely related to the time and method of taking. 1, the time to take the soup medicine: in general is taken 2 hours before eating, divided into 3 times a day. Also according to the condition of the time to take drugs. Lung disease is more appropriate to take medicine after meals, kidney disease and lower limb disease is more appropriate to take medicine before meals. Patients with liver disease should take it at noon and at night before going to bed. The dosage should be small for all products with great bitterness, coldness, pungency and heat. The dosage of the products that strengthen the spleen and benefit the qi, eliminate food stagnation and replenish the qi and blood can be large. Poisonous drugs should be used with caution, the dosage should be small. The main role of the drug dosage should be large, the auxiliary role of the drug dosage should be small. The specific dose can be based on the patient’s physical condition, age and disease. 2, the method of taking tonics: the general use of warm medicine. Suitable for hot liquid to be cooled and served. Suitable for critical conditions once a meal. Suitable for heart disease and nourishing Yin and stomach medicine taken before bedtime. Suitable for bladder disease and kidney tonic to be taken 30 minutes before meals. For bladder and chest diseases taken 30 minutes after eating. For cold flu taken while hot. For infants and children or those who do not suffer from taking the medicine, it can be taken several times frequently. The medicine solution is not easily dissolved in water or should not be decocted medicine powder should be brewed. Pills, ingots, and pills that take effect slowly should be taken in the mouth. There are contraindications during the taking of medicine. The main one is to avoid the mouth to ensure that the medicine works better and to avoid adverse reactions. In general, cold and greasy food should be avoided during the taking of tonics. When taking drugs to relieve sweating, clear heat and cool blood, detoxify and reduce swelling, calm the mind, clear the throat, brighten the eyes, lower blood pressure, calm the liver, relieve dampness, stop bleeding and moisten the lungs, avoid alcohol, ginger, pepper and other pungent and warm stimulants. When used for sores and ulcers, avoid fish, shrimp and other hairy substances. When taking drugs to warm the menstruation, tonic Yang, astringent to stop diarrhea, dispel rheumatism, stop cold pain, avoid eating pear, persimmon, crab and other cold products.