How long should I boil Chinese medicine?

In recent years, with the change of people's concepts, people will not blindly rely on Western medicine when they are sick, and sometimes they will choose to see a Chinese doctor. Although Chinese medicine has no side effects and can regulate the body, decocting Chinese medicine is a science. The time and heat must be controlled well, otherwise the efficacy of the medicine will be destroyed. So, how long is it best to decoct the Chinese medicine? Let’s take a look together below.

1. Decoction time

Generally, the first decoction takes 30 minutes from the start of boiling, and the second decoction takes 20 minutes from the start of boiling. The decoction time of tonic medicines can be appropriately extended.

2. Decoction temperature

Generally, high heat (i.e. strong fire) is used before boiling, and then low heat (i.e. weak fire) is used after boiling, and the water is kept in a slightly boiling state, which is conducive to the extraction of effective ingredients.

3. Decoction of special medicines

Decoction of the medicine first: The active ingredients of some hard medicinal materials are not easy to be decocted out. Generally, they need to be decocted for 30 to 40 minutes first, and then mixed with other medicines and decocted. Add the medicine later: Generally, it is the medicine with aromatic smell containing volatile oil or the medicine that is not suitable for long-term decoction. It should be put into the pot 5 to 10 minutes before the medicine is decocted. Packaged decocted medicine: generally seeds and various pollen medicines are packed in gauze bags and put into the medicine group for decoction. Some precious medicines need to be decocted separately and then added with the liquid medicine for taking together. Common ones include ginseng, American ginseng, deer antler, etc.

Well, after reading the introduction above, I believe you already have your own understanding of the question of how long it takes to boil Chinese medicine. In addition, the utensils for decocting Chinese medicine are also particular. The old clay pot can prevent the loss of nutrients in the Chinese medicine and also has certain health-preserving effects, so if conditions permit, it is best to use this kind of utensils to boil Chinese medicine.