There is a lot to learn about the method of decoction. Improper decoction not only reduces the effectiveness of the medicine, but also sometimes causes side effects. Only by following certain principles can a high-quality decoction be made. Li Shizhen, a famous medical scientist, said, “All medicines are not effective if the decoction is done recklessly, with bad water and fire, or if the fire is out of order.” The Qing Dynasty medical scientist Xu Lingtai also said, “The method of decoction is most appropriate to speak deeply, the effectiveness of the medicine and ineffective, all about this. First, choose a good pot Choose a good decoction tool is the first link of decoction. The best choice for decoction is a casserole or enamel pot. Some people choose aluminum pots, which is not suitable, and can not use iron pot decoction. Chinese herbal medicine contains a chemical called tannic acid, which touches iron and other precious metals to produce insoluble iron tannate or other tannic acid salts. It is a substance that is harmful to the human body. On the other hand, the therapeutic alkaloids in herbs cannot be dissolved in water due to the unavailability of tannic acid, which reduces the effectiveness of the medicine. If there is really no condition, stainless steel pots can be used, but the effectiveness of the medicine will be somewhat affected. In addition, the decoction pot must be clean, each decoction is best immediately after the slag to wash. If some residue remains in the pot, it will affect the effect of another decoction. It is not advisable to use pots that have been used to boil broth or make dishes. Second, pay attention to the amount of water to decoct a dose of medicine, should master the amount of water. Too much water will prolong the decoction time for no reason and make some drugs that should not be decocted for a long time invalid, and too much juice will not be drunk by the patient; too little is not easy to decoct the active ingredients of the drug, and it is easy to dry. Before decoction, soak the drug for 20-30 minutes, and the water surface should be 1 to 2 fingers above the surface of the drug. Of course, the amount of water used should be determined by the type of medicine. Generally, the first decoction of a tonic drug requires about 300 ml of water and the second decoction about 300 ml; the first decoction of an antiphlogistic drug requires about 300 ml of water and the second decoction about 100 ml; the first decoction of a general drug requires about 200 ml of water and the second decoction about 200 ml. The second decoction should be started immediately after the first decoction, and then the juice from the two decoctions should be mixed together and then drunk in two parts. The second time you drink it, the juice is usually cold, so you should warm it up and drink it later, not cold. Since everyone is very busy nowadays, you can consider decocting the medicine in the evening when you have more time, and then drink the first juice and put the second juice for the next morning to save time. Finally, when decocting medicine, it is not advisable to add water frequently, which is not good for the decomposition of the drug. If the drug swells with water and the water is absorbed, add some hot boiling water as appropriate. For herbs that require more water for decoction, it is best to be prepared to add more water beforehand. Third, mastering the fire The ancients had almost demanding requirements for decoction fire. Shen Kuo, a natural scientist in the Northern Song Dynasty, said, “Medicine can be cooked for a long time, and not for a long time, and there are those who are suitable for rapid fire and those who are suitable for warm fire. This cooking and refining of the section.” If the fire is too fast, the soup will boil and overflow, resulting in waste; in addition, the juice will be boiled dry soon, and the medicinal effect cannot be fully decocted out, and it is easy to dry. Small fire decoction is laborious and time-consuming. Often take the method of rapid fire decoction boiling, slow fire decoction until the liquid into. General cold medicine should not be decocted for a long time, more rapid fire decoction to take; tonic medicine is suitable for small fire decoction slow simmer. Fourth, pay attention to the time drugs can be boiled for a long time, there is not a long time to boil; there is a long time to boil can be decocted, but also a long time to boil but reduce the effectiveness of the medicine. Therefore, it is extremely important to grasp the decoction time of drugs, which is often determined according to the texture and function of drugs. 1.Tonic drugs: commonly known as “tonic drugs”. These drugs are mostly plant roots, fruits, animal nails, horns, shells, etc., which are hard and thick and difficult to dissolve, so they must be crushed before decoction and the decoction time should be extended. Generally, the first juice is boiled and then decocted for half an hour to one hour on a civilian fire; the second juice is boiled and then decocted for about half an hour. Individuals must be simmered for more than several hours. 2, anti-sweat drugs: commonly known as “antipyretic drugs”. These drugs are mostly whole plants or flowers and leaves, which are light and fragrant, rich in volatile oils, and easy to make the active ingredients of the drug evaporate and escape if boiled for too long, reducing the effectiveness of the drug. Generally, it can be boiled in a rapid fire and then decocted for 5-10 minutes. 3.General medicine: common therapeutic medicine, which has many functions, so it is appropriate to depend on its specific situation. Generally, it can be boiled and then decocted for half an hour. Here are a few more special methods of decoction 1. First decoction: Sometimes, after a doctor prescribes a medicine, he or she will tell you that one or several of them should be decocted first. This is because different drugs in a prescription take different lengths of time for their active ingredients to precipitate. Some medicines can be obtained in a short time, while others may not. Ores and shelled fruits should be decocted first, and poisonous drugs such as sophora, chuanwu and cao wu should be decocted for a long time to reduce toxicity. 2, after the next: mostly refers to the class of drugs containing aromatic odor, long decoction easy to expire. In addition, there are some drugs, in order to retain its steep effect, also often after the next, such as rhubarb. 3.Bag decoction: Most of the drugs with fluffy or light texture and small volume of granular seeds, as well as easy to sticky, easy to be decocted paste. The fluff is not easily removed from the juice, and irritates the throat after consumption. It can easily cause severe cough. Light-textured seeds float on the surface of the water and easily overflow out of the pot when the juice is boiling, so it is better to pack the decoction. 4.Separate decoction or punch: mostly some more valuable drugs, such as ginseng, antelope horn tablets, etc. If it is mixed with many drugs and discarded as dregs, it is too wasteful, so it should be decocted first and then blended into the juice to take. There are also some drugs that do not need to be decocted, but only heated and dissolved or ground into the liquid, such as gum, deer horn gum, turtle board gum, etc. After a dose of decoction, if for some reason temporarily do not eat, the drug should be promptly poured out, should not stay in the jar for a long time, the liquid in the jar if left for too long, agglomeration, affecting the effectiveness of the medicine, in the summer will also accelerate the decay of the juice deterioration.