Will soaking Chinese medicine for too long affect its efficacy?

Traditional Chinese medicine is a medicinal material that is deeply trusted by people. Many people like to look at Chinese medicine and take some Chinese medicine after they are sick. They feel that although Chinese medicine is not as fast as Western medicine in treating the disease, it can completely cure the disease and is a medicine that treats the root of the disease. Before cooking Chinese medicine, it must be soaked for a period of time. Many people do not know how to control how long the medicine needs to be soaked, and just soak it for a period of time based on their feeling.

Will soaking Chinese medicine for too long affect its efficacy?

Generally speaking, soaking Chinese medicine for a long time may affect its efficacy. If it is soaked for too long in the summer, it may easily cause mold and cannot be taken. Taking it will affect your health, so you need to be careful.

How long is the best time to soak Chinese medicine?

1. The vast majority of Chinese medicinal materials are dry products, which are fine and hard in texture. The active ingredients have crystallized or precipitated in the cells, and water cannot easily penetrate. If they are soaked in cold water for a period of time before decoction, the medicinal materials will become soft, the cells will swell, and the active ingredients will be easily decocted out. Some medicinal materials contain more starch and protein. If they are decocted over fire without being soaked, the starch on the surface of the medicinal materials will gelatinize and the protein will coagulate, blocking the capillary pores on the surface of the medicinal materials. Water will not be able to enter, and the effective ingredients will not be easily decocted out, affecting the efficacy of the medicine.

2. The soaking time depends on the medicine. For medicines with loose texture such as flowers, leaves, and thin stems, soaking for half an hour is sufficient; for medicines with hard texture such as tubers, rhizomes, seeds, and fruits, soaking time should be 1 hour; and for mineral, animal, and shell medicines, the soaking time needs to be longer. But be careful not to soak for too long, especially in summer, to avoid the medicine deterioration. The water used to soak the medicine should be used directly for decocting the medicine and cannot be poured away. How long is the best time to soak Chinese medicine? Casserole, enamelware, or stainless steel is the best container for decocting medicine. Ironware is strictly prohibited. Chinese medicine should be soaked in cold water for about 20 minutes before decocting. The amount of water used for decocting medicine is generally enough to soak the medicine surface 1-3 cm. For large doses of medicines or medicines that are loose and easily absorb water, the amount of water can be increased appropriately.

3. Soak the Chinese medicine in cold water for a while before decocting it. If it is leaves or flowers, soak it for about an hour. If it is a root or fruit, it generally needs to be soaked for more than two hours. At the same time, seasonal factors should be considered. For example, the soaking time should be shorter in summer and slightly longer in winter. The general principle is that the higher the room temperature, the shorter the soaking time.

How long does it take to boil Chinese medicine?

The boiling time of Chinese medicine should be determined according to its medicinal properties. Different medicines have different boiling times, and the general boiling time is 30 minutes. Antipyretic drugs, heat-clearing drugs, and aromatic drugs should not be decocted for a long time. They should be decocted for 15-20 minutes after boiling. The tonic medicine should be boiled over high heat first, then simmered over low heat for 40-60 minutes. Stir the medicine 2-3 times when decocting it. Each dose of Chinese medicine is generally decocted twice, and the second decocting time can be slightly shorter.

Precautions for decoction of Chinese medicine

Since the texture and properties of Chinese medicines often vary significantly, the decoction methods or decoction times are often different, including decocting first, adding later, decocting in a wrapped form, etc. When decocting medicine, attention should be paid to the temperature. The temperature should be controlled according to the nature and texture of the medicine. For example, antipyretic medicine should be decocted quickly with high heat, while tonic medicine should be decocted with low heat.