Decoction utensils: Decoction of Chinese medicine is best done in casseroles, earthenware, and tile pots, because of their uniform thermal conductivity V, gentle heat, strong insulation around the pot, low evaporation of water, not easy to occur chemical changes and low price. Enamelware, aluminum, stainless steel pots and pans are also available for decocting drugs. Decoction water: decoction water is clean, tap water, well water, pure water, distilled water V can be. There are many ways to calculate the amount of water used, but the common one is to visually observe the amount of water added when decocting over 2-3 cm above the surface of the medicine; the other one is to roughly estimate the amount of water needed by adding 10 ml of water per gram of herbs as the standard. Decoction fire: Decoction fire is divided into “martial fire” and “civil fire”. Martial fire refers to a decoction method with rapid fire, fierce fire, fast temperature rise and more water vaporization. Wenhuo refers to a slow, weak fire, the temperature does not change much, slow evaporation of water decoction method. Generally, the decoction is first boiled with martial fire, and then changed to civil fire for another 10-15 minutes. However, some formulas, such as antiphlogistic, antipyretic, and aromatic-based formulas, only use wu hua, and should not be decocted with wen hua for a long time. However, some prescriptions, such as antiphlogistic agents, purifying agents and aromatic agents, should only be decocted for a long time with a wu hua fire. In addition, the poisonous drugs such as sapodilla, wolfsbane and aconite should be decocted for a long time with slow fire to reduce their toxicity. Decoction method: The general decoction method is to first place the drug in a container, add cold water and soak for 2 hours, then put the lid on the fire to heat the decoction. First decoct with martial fire, then decoct with civil fire. During the decoction process, pay attention to moderate stirring to avoid paste in the pot, and also to improve the decoction rate 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 decocting for 10-15 minutes on a gentle fire, strain the first decoction; then heat an appropriate amount of water and decoct according to the above method to take the second decoction. Mix the two liquids and take them according to medical advice. In addition, there are some drugs that need special methods to decoct, which are introduced as follows: first decoction: shell and ore drugs, such as turtle plate, turtle nail, magnet, etc., should be decocted first because of hard texture and difficult to taste, and then put other drugs 20 minutes after decoction to make the full decoction of medicine. In addition to this, drugs with large sediment content such as Zao Xin Tu, glutinous rice root, etc., or drugs with lighter texture but large body such as Xia Ku Cao, Bai Mao Root, Bamboo Roo, etc., should be decocted first to obtain juice clarification, and then the rest of the drugs should be decocted in the juice. After decoction: Drugs with aromatic odor, which take effect by their volatile oil, such as mint, sand, cardamom, etc., should be decocted for 4-5 minutes when the general drug is ready to be decocted to prevent its active ingredients from being dispersed. Decoction: In order to prevent turbidity of the medicine after decoction and reduce the bad stimulation of the medicine to the digestive tract and throat, such as red stone resin, slippery stone, spinach, psyllium, loquat leaves, etc., the medicine should be wrapped in gauze and then put into the medicine pot for decoction. Single decoction: Also known as another stew or another decoction, certain valuable drugs such as ginseng, American ginseng, rhinoceros horn (substitute), antelope horn (substitute), etc., can be decocted separately in order to preserve their active ingredients as much as possible and reduce the absorption by other drugs by decocting at the same time. Melting: Gum, viscous and soluble drugs, such as gum, tortoise gum, deer gum, honey, caramel, etc., should be melted separately with the liquid and taken, or added to the decoction and melted. Because it is easy to stick to the pot and boil scorched when decocted, and adhere to other drugs, affecting the decoction rate. Rinse: Dispersion, elixir, water pills, natural medicine juice, and certain precious drugs or aromatic drugs, need to be rinsed, such as musk, niuhuang, panax pseudoginseng, six gods pill, raw earth yellow juice, etc.