How to decoct (boil) herbs? The method is actually very simple, just pay attention to the following issues. Decoction tools: Decoction of Chinese medicine can be made in stainless steel, enamel, casserole, etc. If conditions do not allow, electric rice cooker or induction cooker used for soup at home can also be used. Decoction water: decoction water is clean, tap water is fine, no need to use pure water, distilled water and so on. In winter, warm water can be used to make medicine. Third, Chinese medicine soak: drugs generally do not wash. If the seeds and fruits are the main drugs, they can be soaked for an hour, and the general herbs can be soaked for 40 minutes, and for one hour in winter. The “first decoction” medicine is usually boiled for 30 to 60 minutes first. If the drug is poisonous, such as sapodilla, Chuanwu, Cao Wu, etc., it should be decocted for 1 hour first. If the dosage is large, more than 30 grams, it should be decocted for 2 hours. (1) If there is only one kind of drug such as Radix et Rhizoma, Chuan Wu and Herba Wu, multiple doses can be decocted first, and then the juice and dregs can be divided into equal portions with each drug later to save time. (2) If there is a variety of first decoction of Radix et Rhizoma Polygonati, Chuanwu, Cao Wu, magnet, keel, oyster, etc., it should be divided equally and wrapped in gauze first, and then decocted in multiple doses, and later the juice should be divided equally with the drug in each gauze with each dose to save time. Generally the first decoction with water over the drug 5 cm; second decoction with water to submerge the liquid surface of the drug 2 cm higher. Decoction fire: decoction fire is divided into “martial fire” and “civil fire”. The fire refers to the fire, the fire is urgent, the fire is fierce, the temperature rises quickly, the water evaporates more of a decoction method. Wenhuo refers to a small fire, slow, weak fire, temperature change is not large, slow evaporation of water decoction method. Generally, the decoction is first boiled with high fire, and then changed to low fire for 25 minutes. However, some formulas, such as antiphlogistic, antipyretic, and aromatic-based formulas, only use high fire and should not be decocted for a long time with low fire. But some prescriptions, such as antiphlogistic agents, antipyretic agents, aromatic drugs, should not be decocted for a long time with a low fire, so that the taste of the medicine can come out. In addition, the poisonous drugs such as sapodilla, wolfsbane and aconite should be decocted for a long time with low heat to reduce their toxicity. Decoction method: the general decoction method, with a lid on the fire heating decoction. First decoct on high heat, then on low heat. During the decoction process, pay attention to moderate stirring to avoid paste, and also to improve the rate of decoction of the active ingredients of the drug. However, the lid of the pot should not be opened too frequently to minimize the loss of volatile components. After boiling on high heat, decoct on low heat for 25 minutes and then strain the first decoction (if there are drugs under later: cinnamon, sand, etc., they should be added when decocting on low heat for 20 minutes and then boiled for 5 minutes); then add warm water in appropriate amount without further soaking and decoct according to the above method to take the second decoction. Mix the two decoctions and take them according to the doctor’s instructions. Six: Decoction time: Note that the decoction time is calculated from the time the liquid is boiled. First decoction takes 15 minutes and second decoction takes about 15 minutes. General medicine: 25 minutes for the first decoction and 25 minutes for the second decoction. Tonic medicine: 40 minutes for the first decoction and 30 minutes for the second decoction. Seven, the number of decoction: general decoction twice. One long decoction cannot replace two separate decoctions. Decoction of soup can be decocted twice to get 80% of the ingredients, so it is appropriate to decoct the medicine twice. You can mix the medicine of two decoctions together and take it in 2-3 times half an hour after meals (if you have molten medicines such as gum and antler gum, wrap them in cloth and break them up, then introduce the amount of molten medicine into the mixture of the first and second decoction, and heat and stir to melt them). If there are more drugs, it can be cooked 3 times, and the juice of the 3rd decoction can be used as the potion for the next drug soak in order not to waste. VIII. Decoction volume: 100-150ml per dose for children. Adults 400-600ml per dose. If the decoction is too much for children to eat, the decoction can be boiled (concentrated) again with a gentle fire, stirring while boiling, and concentrated to the amount that children can eat. A pair of Chinese medicine can be concentrated to 50-100 ml, and then it can be taken in several doses. IX. Special drugs: In addition, there are some drugs that require special methods to decoct, and these drugs will be packaged separately by the pharmacy staff. (1) “Decoction first”: boil for 30 minutes, then add other drugs to the same decoction. (2) “Post-decoction”: When the general medicine is about to be decocted to a predetermined amount, put in the same decoction for 5 minutes. (3) “Dissolving medicine”: When other medicines are decocted to the intended amount, take the juice and decoct it on a light fire, stirring constantly to dissolve it. (4) “Purging medicine”: Purging medicine should be mixed into the decoction or boiled water. (10) Method of taking medicine: Generally, a dose of medicine is decocted twice and then the liquid is combined and taken in 2-3 times. Treatment of colds, fever, enteritis, diarrhea medicine, you can also use the method of frequent service, that is, once every 4 hours, each time to take 40-80 ml, the disease is cured that stop, and then changed to 2-3 times a day. XI. Time of taking medicine: It is appropriate to take herbal medicines after meals, after meals for gastrointestinal stimulation, while hot for relieving the symptoms, before bed for tranquilizing medicines, on an empty stomach for deworming and attacking medicines, before meals for tonic medicines, or as prescribed by the doctor. If there are no special instructions, all herbal medicines should be taken after meals. (Chinese herbal medicines that are suitable to be taken before meals: acid-making and pain-relieving drugs for stomach diseases, which are suitable to be taken before meals to enhance the protective effect on stomach mucosa; deworming drugs, which are suitable to be taken on an empty stomach to facilitate deworming.) Chinese medicines that should be taken before bedtime: ① tranquilizers should be taken about one hour before bedtime to help patients fall asleep; ② laxatives should be taken before bedtime to help eliminate gastrointestinal stagnation. Twelve, taking medicine food taboo: Chinese medicine on the taking of medicine food taboo to pay more attention to, mainly the following points. (1) during taking ginseng, party ginseng, should not eat radish, mung beans. (2) do not drink strong tea when taking Chinese medicine, if you have the habit of drinking tea, you can drink light tea one hour after taking the medicine. (3) Do not eat chili pepper when taking Chinese medicine, especially for hot diseases. (4) Avoid raw, cold, greasy food when taking Chinese medicine decoction and pills. (5) If you have indigestion, avoid eating fried and sticky things that are not easy to digest. (6) Sores and abscesses and other diseases avoid eating fish, shrimp, crab and other fishy food and stimulating food. (7) asthma, rhinitis and other allergic diseases, should avoid eating “hairy things” containing foreign proteins, such as fish and shrimp, seafood fishy things.