The correct way to decoct Chuanwu is to soak it in water for about 30 minutes, then decoct it in a pot and boil it for 45-60 minutes before adding it to other medicines.
The first decoction is usually used for gold and stone minerals and shell medicines, because the active ingredients of these herbs are not easily dissolved in water, so they need to be broken and decocted first. In addition, like appendices, aconite class has a large toxicity of traditional Chinese medicine, also need to be decocted first. The purpose is to reduce their toxicity, making the medication safe.
Chuanwu is the dried mother root of aconite of the buttercup family, hot, taste hard. It has great toxicity and is attributed to the heart, liver, spleen and kidney meridians. It is effective in dispelling wind-dampness, warming menstruation and relieving pain.
Overdose of this drug or taking it without prolonged decoction may result in numbness of the limbs, nausea, vomiting and other manifestations of poisoning. Therefore, before using this medicine, it must be soaked for 30 minutes, then fired and decocted, and boiled for 45~60 minutes before adding other medicines to the decoction.
Be sure to follow the doctor’s instructions to decoct the drug to avoid drug poisoning.