Recommended Guide
How to Do It and Why
@LongxiTang has summarized the method many times before; this time it is the most comprehensive so far.
This method incorporates the professional experience of decoction masters and optimizes the decoction process. Its advantages are:
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Maximizes extraction of Chinese medicine components, ensuring efficacy;
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Precisely controls every step, making decoction easy;
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Each dose can be decocted once and consumed over 2 days, cutting the cost of drinking Chinese medicine in half directly.
In addition to explaining the decoction method, this article also explains the principle behind each operation, making it a “hand-in-hand” level guide.
Original Link
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Hs6U3xkSr6Ri7wVWIWmi5w
Main Content
Preface
This method incorporates the professional experience of decoction masters and optimizes the decoction process. Its advantages are:
-
Maximizes extraction of Chinese medicine components, ensuring efficacy;
-
Precisely controls every step, making decoction easy;
-
Each dose can be decocted once and consumed over 2 days, cutting the cost of drinking Chinese medicine in half.
In addition to explaining the decoction method, this article also explains the principle behind each operation, making it a “hand-in-hand” level guide.
1. Preparation Stage
Before decoction, it is recommended to prepare the following tools:
- A fire-powered ceramic medicine pot or an electric-powered glass medicine pot, with a capacity above 2000ml;
Ceramic medicine pot
OR
Glass medicine pot
- A kitchen electronic scale with a capacity over 2000 grams, 5000 grams preferred;
- A sealable liquid container with a capacity around 1000ml, preferably made of glass;
- A funnel;
- A pack of food-grade non-woven filter bags for removing dregs (optional);
2. Implementation Stage
1. Pour the Chinese medicine into the container and zero the electronic scale;
2. Add cold water, with volume = total volume of medicine + 600ml, soak for 30~60 minutes.
Step 1: Add some water first, just enough to cover the Chinese medicine surface.
Step 2: Zero the electronic scale, then continue to add 600ml cold water.
Friends with good mathematical skills can skip the “zeroing” step and directly add water to the specified weight.
Q: Why use an electronic scale?
A: Because 99% of household liquid containers are not! accurate! If you want precise measurement, you have to trust Newton.
Q: Why first make the liquid surface cover the Chinese medicine?
A: Because during decoction, Chinese medicine absorbs water. Different prescriptions have different volumes and water absorption rates, so there is no one-size-fits-all water amount.
Letting the liquid just cover the medicine allows the medicine to freely absorb water — the following 600ml is what we ultimately can drink.
Q: What if the medicine is not clean enough?
A: If there is a lot of dirt floating, you can wash it once before soaking (be careful not to wash away small medicines), then add water as above. Don’t wash too many times — once is enough. If only a little impurity, washing can be skipped.
Q: What kind of water is best for soaking Chinese medicine?
A: The soaking water will directly be used for decoction, so it’s recommended to use good-quality water, not tap water.
Q: If there is a lot of medicine so that just covering it with water nearly reaches the capacity limit, what to do?
A: If you have already added more than 1400ml to cover the medicine, do not add more water; if less than 1400ml, total water should be brought to 1400ml.
3. First Decoction: After soaking for 30~60 minutes, start decoction. After boiling, simmer on low heat for 30~45 minutes, stirring 1~2 times during the process.
(1) If the formula contains “pre-decocted” medicines, no need to decoct separately first, decoct all together.
(2) If the formula has “added later” medicines, be sure to turn off the heat first, then add these medicines gently stirring them into the decoction, using residual pot heat to simmer for 15~30 minutes.
Finally, you can pour out 400~500ml of Chinese medicine decoction.
Q: Why not use “pre-decoction”?
A: Because the overall decoction time of the medicines already meets the requirements of “pre-decocted medicines.” Also, Chinese medicines purchased from正规渠道 (standard channels) do not require “long decoction to reduce toxicity.” Medicines like processed Aconite (制附子) or processed Aconitum (制乌头), before being made into slices, have undergone long soaking and decoction so that their medicinal and toxic properties are minimized.
Q: Why turn off heat before adding “added later” medicines?
A: Most Chinese medicine bags advise adding the “added later” medicines 15 minutes before turning off the heat. You can try it yourself: boiling mint for 15 minutes leaves nothing.
During boiling, “wow, the aroma is so strong,” but the aroma you’d drink has evaporated into the air. So for medicines added later, it’s best to avoid direct fire — using residual heat of the pot to extract their effective components is optimal.
As for heat-stable or non-volatile components of “added later” medicines, they can be fully extracted in the second decoction.
4. Second Decoction: After pouring out the decoction, while the pot is still warm, add 600ml cold water and decoct again. After boiling, simmer on low heat for 45 minutes, stirring 1~2 times during the process.
Q: If 600ml water is not enough to cover the medicine, what to do?
A: If the exposed medicine section is less than 2cm, no need to add water, just stir 1-2 times when decocting; if more than 2cm, continue adding water until exposed part is less than 2cm.
When the heat is turned off, you can pour out another 400~500ml of decoction.
5. Combine the two decoctions and, using the “food-grade non-woven filter bag” and “funnel,” pour into the sealed container. After cooling to room temperature, refrigerate for later use (filter bag for filtering dregs is optional).
Q: Generally it is said “one dose yields 400ml, taken in 2 doses,” why is the combined yield here 800~1000ml?
A: First, strictly speaking, if you want to reduce the decoction from the pot water to 200ml after soaking the medicine, it takes very long. During this, much effective component will be reabsorbed by the herbs, causing waste.
Second, by the ancient principle, 《Shang Han Lun》 has many examples of larger decoction volume. For example, in Guizhi Decoction, “use seven sheng of water, simmer to three sheng, remove dregs, cool to appropriate warmth, take one sheng.” Converting one sheng to today’s 200ml, Zhang Zhongjing boiled about 600ml each time, enough for 3 doses.
In fact, even boiled to 800~1000ml, it is still more concentrated than hospital-decocted medicines. The ultimate result: paying for one day’s dose but drinking over two days — this is why I recommend patients decoct by themselves.
Q: Why emphasize “sealed container”?
A: First, a sealed container prevents evaporation of H₂O and other components in the decoction and keeps it clean from microbial contamination. Second, sealed containers can be laid flat and are easier to store.
3. Medication Stage
- Most Chinese medicines should be taken once between 9-11 a.m. and once before 3 p.m., each time 200-250ml. These two periods have the strongest yang energy, allowing better efficacy of the medicines.
Follow doctor’s instructions for special circumstances.
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Avoid drinking too much water after 8 p.m. to maintain sleep quality. For reference, see: How to Have the Healthiest Schedule Starting Today?.
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Take medicine at least 30 minutes apart from meals, preferably more than 1 hour apart.
4. Some Reminders
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If the formula contains volatile substances such as menthol or paeonol, it is recommended to pour the first decoction immediately into a sealed container to reduce evaporation.
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This decoction method requires minimal manual operation time, but including soaking and decocting, each decoction takes about 2 hours and can be taken over 2 days.
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For ultimate convenience, the electric-powered glass medicine pot is recommended, as it allows observing the liquid level, automatically turns off after simmering without manual adjustment, and is easy to clean.
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After taking the decoction out of the fridge, do not drink it directly. Heat it first — microwave on high for 1-2 minutes is fine.
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Other methods like dissolving or mixing medicine powder can follow the instructions on the packaging; if unsure, search online. Just follow routine procedures.
5. Summary
Compared to previous methods, this decoction method features three particular points:
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Precise water volume, avoiding statements like “adding 4 bowls of water to get 1 bowl of decoction”;
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Specifies that medicines added later should not be exposed to direct fire but simmered using residual heat;
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The final decoction volume need not be restricted to 400ml nor consumed all in one day. Boiling 800-1000ml and drinking over two days is just right.
Hope this helps everyone be more skillful in decocting Chinese medicine in the future—using the right method, decoction is really simple.
In the next issue, we will share some practical general Chinese medicine prescriptions for minor illnesses like colds, for everyone to prepare in advance and be well-prepared.
Looking forward to your
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