I. Selection of decoction equipment No matter anything this before, the right tools are necessary, and only when the right tools are chosen can a solid foundation be laid for the successful completion of the task. The same is true for decoction. Our ancestors practiced for thousands of years and thus concluded the most suitable utensils for decoction of Chinese medicine – casseroles and clay pots. They are stable in nature and inexpensive. However, with the development of technology, many families nowadays have replaced gas stoves with induction stoves. The casserole and pot can not be used on the induction stove. We have to use stainless steel or enamel vessels instead. But this will inevitably affect the efficacy of Chinese medicine. Our ancestors, when decocting herbs, not only had requirements for the use, but also for the firewood used. There is a difference between willow wood, mulberry wood and corn straw, because the hardness and heat between them are different. Now we can no longer achieve with the development of civilization, but only with modern high technology instead. For example, the electric soup pot or electric decoction pot, is a modern high-tech decoction tool. But in any case, when decocting, do not go for pots made of metal with high activity such as iron and aluminum. Due to their high activity, they tend to chemically combine with the ingredients in the herbal medicine, producing some substances that not only affect the efficacy of the herbal medicine, but may even produce toxic substances that can damage our bodies. The decoction apparatus has been selected, and now it’s time to talk about the most neglected part of the decoction, the soaking of the medicine. Some people may think that it’s just a matter of soaking the medicine in cold water, so what else is there to pay attention to here. In fact, if the Chinese medicine is not soaked well, it is most likely to reduce the efficacy of the Chinese medicine. 1, the choice of water Ancient people will be water for a variety of, such as dew, frost water, long flowing water, waterlogged water, etc.. Nowadays, this is no longer the case, but it is probably one of the factors that reduce the efficacy of Chinese medicine. The quality of decoction will be much different if the water quality is different. Generally, the most suitable water for decoction is unpolluted river water and spring water, then well water, and the second most suitable water is tap water. Although this is a personal opinion, my reason is that there are many disinfectants such as bleach in the tap water that we use everyday. The main component of bleach is chloride, which is mostly acidic. And some alkaline ingredients in Chinese medicine, alkaloids are prone to produce some ineffective ingredients with them, and their production will reduce the concentration of active ingredients or even produce toxicity, thus affecting the efficacy or toxic side effects. 2, soaking time Different Chinese medicine soaking time is different, the time is short soak is not thorough, long time will not waste time, but also may affect the efficacy of drugs. The general principle is that the hard root, ore-based medicine, soak time longer, about 45 minutes or so; to the stems and leaves, the whole herb-based formula, soak time shorter, about 20 ~ 30 minutes. But all the medicine through prevails. Then how to judge it? It is to choose the hard root type medicine in the formula, break off to see if there is still a dry heart. 3, the amount of water used for soaking is also a matter of concern, adding too little water is easy to paste the pot, too much medicine is too thin, reducing the therapeutic effect of drugs. Generally, the amount of water used is 4~5cm above the surface of the medicine for the first decoction, and 2~3cm above the surface of the medicine for the second decoction. Decoction of Chinese medicine is like building a house, once the foundation is laid, it is time to build the house. Now we will talk about the decoction of Chinese medicine. The decoction of Chinese medicine mainly includes the decoction fire, decoction time, and the special treatment of different medicines during decoction. 1. Fire Chinese medicine decoction is about the first fire and then the second fire. The fire is the big fire, rapid fire. Generally, the decoction is started with a large fire, and then cooked with a small fire until it is ready. 2. Decoction time The decoction time is very different for different textures of drugs. For drugs like roots and ores, which are not easy to decoct, the decoction time should be longer. For herbs, leaves and flowers, it is not easy to decoct them for too long, otherwise their efficacy will be reduced. Generally, the decoction time is 20-30 minutes for the first decoction and 15-20 minutes for the second decoction; the decoction time for easy decoction should be short and generally covered, so most of these herbs contain volatile ingredients. For the treatment of exogenous herbs, it is better to use the method of rapid decoction with lid and high fire to preserve the medicinal effect as much as possible. 3. Handling of special drugs 〈1〉 First decoction is to decoct other drugs for some time before combining with other drugs. The purpose is to facilitate the decoction of ingredients or reduce the toxicity of toxic drugs. Commonly, the ore shells of keel, oyster, ochre, magnet, poisonous such as sapodilla, aconite, etc. 〈2〉 After the next After the next is, of course, after other drugs decoction for a period of time, then add the same boiling medicine. This type of Chinese medicine mainly includes drugs that are volatile and whose ingredients should not be decocted for a long time. They are commonly found in peppermint, sand, hooked vine, almond, etc. 〈3〉 Packed decoction It includes some pollen, herbs containing fluff and mucilage. If they are not decocted in packets, they will produce unfavorable filtration of the liquid, irritate the throat, and easily paste the pot. They are haijin sha, pu huang, spineflower, psyllium, tian hebecarpa, etc. 〈4〉 Single decoction (another decoction) It is a treatment method for precious medicine, which is to boil it alone and then put the juice into the situation and take it. They are ginseng, wormwood, American ginseng, deer antler, etc. 〈5〉 Melting This is a treatment method especially for gum-like herbs, that is, they are melted in hot water and then put into the juice or taken separately. 〈6〉 Flushing is a way to deal with those valuable medicines that are difficult to dissolve or easy to crush into fine powder, before taking them into fine powder, and then flush with warm water. Such as our commonly used Panax ginseng powder, leech powder, etc.