Every day, many patients repeatedly ask about the method of decocting and taking medicine. My clinic assistant, graduate students and I need to spend a lot of time explaining every day, I have organized the method of decocting and taking medicine in our clinic as follows, hoping to help the majority of patients. If you still do not understand, you can ask from the online consultation or ask during the clinic. Decoction method of herbal medicine I. Decoction apparatus It is best to use ceramic vessels in casserole, ceramic jars, stable performance, not easy to chemical reaction with the composition of Chinese medicine, and uniform thermal conductivity, good warmth. The next available white enamelware, stainless steel pot, glass pot. Avoid using metal utensils such as iron, aluminum and copper for decoction. Because metal elements are prone to chemical reactions with herbal ingredients in the solution, which may reduce the efficacy and even produce toxic side effects. Decoction water 1.What water to use: In ancient times, there were a lot of details, but nowadays, generally speaking, water that can be used for drinking, such as tap water and mineral water, can be used to decoct Chinese medicine. 2. How much water to add: The amount of water to be added is determined according to the dense texture, water absorption and the length of decoction time of the herbal tablets. Generally, the amount of water used is about 3 cm after the tablets are properly pressurized and the liquid surface is submerged. Third, before decoction soaking Chinese medicine tablets before decoction is conducive to the full dissolution of the active ingredients, can be soaked for 20-30 minutes, seeds, fruit-based drugs can be soaked for 1 hour. Summer high temperature, soaking time should not be too long, so as not to corrupt the deterioration of four, decoction fire and the number of 1, fire: general decoction should be first martial fire (large fire) after the fire (small fire). Regular drugs before boiling with the fire, after boiling with the fire decoction 5 minutes, and then adjusted to the fire decoction 25-30 minutes. Maintain a slight boiling state to avoid overflowing of the juice or boiling dry too quickly. For cold medicine and other aromatic drugs, generally boil them quickly with a wu huo fire and then switch to a wen huo fire for about 5 to 10 minutes. Minerals, bones and horns, shells and crustaceans, and tonic drugs, which are not easy to decoct, should be decocted for a long time with a gentle fire so that the active ingredients can be fully dissolved. Generally speaking, a dose of medicine can be decocted twice, and tonic medicine can be decocted up to three times. After the first decoction, the active ingredients can only be dissolved if the liquid is filtered out and re-boiled with water. The routine is to decoct the medicine twice, mix the two decoctions, and take it in four doses. Take the medicine twice a day and one dose in two days. Sometimes the juice is too much and can be divided into 6 doses. Take twice a day and one dose of medicine for three days. Chinese medicine for digestive diseases is recommended to be taken 30 minutes to 60 minutes after meals. V. Handling of special decoction marked on the prescription 1. first decoction: first decoction for 20 minutes ~ 30 minutes before entering other drugs with the decoction to ensure the safety of medication. 2, after the next: the first decoction without the drug, to be put into the second decoction when the drug decoction will be ready, decoction can be boiled for about 5 minutes. 3.Wrapped decoction: It is advisable to wrap the medicine in gauze, sweat cloth, silk cloth, etc. into the decoction. Most of the drugs in our hospital are wrapped in non-woven fabric, so you don’t need to find gauze and other wrapping, just add it directly. 4.Separate decoction: Precious drugs such as ginseng should be decocted in a small ceramic pot or ceramic cup for 60 minutes or longer on low heat to avoid the active ingredients from the decoction being adsorbed by other dregs and causing waste. 5.Melting: It is advisable to put it into a small bowl, add 20ml-30ml of water or yellow wine, place it on a cage drawer and steam it to melt, then blend it into the decoction and take it in portions. 6.Rushing: It is appropriate to use the decoction or boiling water to mix and then rinse. Granules taking method 1, the conventional taking method: general granules is one gram at a time, twice a day, melted with warm boiled water, 30 minutes to 60 minutes after meals. 2, our clinical taking method: one frame a day, melted with warm boiled water, divided into two doses, 30 minutes to 60 minutes after meals. 3.Note: Sometimes, due to the large size of the medicine, a dose of medicine can not fit in one compartment, it may be divided into two compartments, it is recommended to take more compartments and less compartments each one, mixed with warm boiled water and melted, divided into two doses, 30 minutes to 60 minutes after meals. Note: The above decoction method is the requirement of our clinic and is not universally applicable; if you visit other herbalists, you should follow the requirement of your physician.