How to Boil Herbs

The boiling method of Chinese herbal medicine is to select suitable decoction utensils, soak first, then decoct twice, blend the two decoctions together and take them in separate doses. Selection of decoction utensils: use casserole or tile pots, avoid using copper pots and iron pots, so as to avoid the chemical reaction between the metal elements in them and the herbs, which will reduce the efficacy of the herbs and even produce toxic side effects. Soaking: lay the medicine flat on the bottom of the pot, add water to 2 centimeters above the medicine is most suitable. Soak for 30~60 minutes to help soak out the active ingredients of the medicine and save the decoction time. Decoction: Boil the water over high heat, then slowly simmer over low heat. The time of decoction should be decided according to the efficacy of the medicine. The decoction time should be decided according to the efficacy of the drug. Exopathogens and purgatives, mostly containing volatile ingredients, should be heated for a shorter time, so they should be decocted over high heat, and then decocted for 3~5 minutes after boiling; tonic drugs should be heated for a longer time, and should be decocted slowly over a low heat for a further 30~60 minutes after boiling. Filtration: A dose of medicine is usually decocted two to three times, because there is a problem of water absorption and saturation of the drug, so the second and third decoction of the amount of water added to the first decoction of the 1/3 ~ 1/2 can be decocted juice mixed, taken in batches. The decoction of Chinese herbal medicines should be carried out under the guidance of medical professionals, and individuals should not decoct the medicines at will, so as not to affect the efficacy of the treatment.