The quality of decoction directly affects the effectiveness of clinical treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to master the correct method of decoction of Chinese herbal soup in order to maximize its therapeutic effect. In the process of decocting Chinese medicine at home, we need to pay attention to the following aspects Decoction apparatus: best to use casserole The best apparatus for decoction is a casserole. A casserole belongs to pottery, which is the best choice for decocting Chinese medicine because of its uniform heat conduction, stable chemical properties, not easy to chemically change with drug ingredients, and good warmth. If there is no pottery, white enamelware and aluminum pots can also be used instead. However, do not use utensils made of copper, iron, tin, etc. Iron, copper, tin itself is also a class of Chinese medicine, the use of fear and disease; and the metal elements in these materials and the chemical composition of the Chinese medicine is easy to react, lightly reduce the efficacy, serious toxic side effects, such as iron pot decoction, often generate an insoluble iron tannic acid, so that the liquid becomes black and green, the taste of medicine and astringent and fishy, not only can not heal, and even toxic, endangering life. Soaking before decoction: facilitate the decoction of active ingredients Soaking with water before decoction is conducive to the decoction of active ingredients. This is because after drying, water is evaporated, cell walls and ducts are crumpled, cellular fluid is dried up, and substances in them exist in the cells as crystals or amorphous precipitates. Soaking before decoction can make the cells swell up again, and when the moisture is further infiltrated, the cells can swell and rupture, so that a large amount of active ingredients can be released. The pre-decoction soaking time is 30-60 minutes, and the soaking time for seeds, fruits and root-based medicines is 60 minutes. In summer, the temperature is high, soaking time can be shortened; conversely, winter can be longer. Soaking water, to room temperature (25 ℃ -50 ℃) is appropriate, do not use boiling water. Decoction water and volume: the liquid surface of the two cross fingers of the tablet is appropriate Decoction water can generally use tap water, the amount of water for the herb after pressure, the liquid surface of the two cross fingers of the tablet (about 2 cm) is appropriate. For aromatic and volatile drugs and loose textured drugs, the water can be submerged; for hard and viscous drugs that require long decoction, the amount of water can be slightly more. Too little water for decoction is not conducive to the dissolution of the active ingredients of the drug, while too much will reduce the effective concentration of the drug and increase the burden of water and fluid metabolism in the spleen and stomach, which is not conducive to treatment and health. The number of decoctions: generally only one decoction is recommended for a dose of medicine, and at most two decoctions. Firstly, because the ancient people only decocted medicine once, there is no such thing as re-decoction or triple decoction. Secondly, most of the active ingredients in Chinese medicine are water-soluble substances, and special drugs can be fully dissolved by decoction methods such as first decoction and second decoction. The water used for decoction is only a solution, which is the carrier of the dissolved drug. The method of repeatedly decocting and mixing and then distributing the medicine directly reduces the effective concentration of the drug, which is not conducive to the therapeutic effect of the drug. In order to reduce waste, after the liquid is filtered out, the dregs should be wrapped in a double layer of gauze, and when it is slightly cooled, the liquid adsorbed by the dregs is strangled under pressure, and finally the dregs are thrown away. The experiments show that a large amount of active ingredients can be obtained from the stranded liquid, which is equivalent to 1/3 of the original dose, especially for some drugs whose efficacy is reduced by high heat, lost or not suitable for long decoction, and the proportion of active ingredients contained in the dregs is higher. In this way, it can increase the dissolution rate of Chinese medicine and improve the therapeutic effect. Dosing method: one dose per day The clinical practice is generally one dose per day, with each dose divided into 2 or 3 doses. If the disease is acute, it can be taken once every 4 hours or so, day and night, so that the medicinal power can be sustained. In general, tonics are mostly taken warm. Except for special purposes, in order to reduce the stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract, the medicine can be taken after meals to increase patient compliance and improve the therapeutic effect.