How long is the best time to boil Chinese medicine?

Many people think that the longer they boil Chinese medicine, the better the medicinal properties will be. In fact, this is not the case. The boiling time of Chinese medicinal materials requires certain attention. If the boiling time is too short, the ingredients in the therapeutic medicine will not be completely boiled, which may affect the efficacy of the medicine. If the boiling time is too long, the boiled ingredients will evaporate, which will also affect the efficacy of the medicine. So, how long should Chinese medicine be boiled to achieve the best effect?

The boiling time of Chinese medicinal materials is not the longer the better. Generally, the boiling time of therapeutic medicines is about 20-30 minutes, the boiling time of tonic medicines is slightly shorter, and the boiling time of nourishing and health-preserving medicines can be appropriately increased. In addition, when boiling Chinese medicine, you should also pay attention to soaking in advance, the choice of the pot, and the amount of water added to maximize the medicinal effect.

1. How long does it take to boil Chinese medicine for the best actual effect?

Chinese medicinal materials generally need to be decocted in two times. During the decocting process, they must first be boiled over high heat and then simmered over low heat. The boiling time starts from the time the therapeutic medicine boils. The first decoction time is about 20-30 minutes, and the second time is controlled at about 15-20 minutes. If it is a therapeutic medicine for treating colds, the decocting time can be shortened appropriately. Generally, the first decocting time is 15-20 minutes, and the second decocting time is 10-15 minutes. For nourishing and health-preserving therapeutic medicines, the boiling time can be increased appropriately, 30-40 minutes for the first time and about 20-30 minutes for the second time. Try to stir the Chinese medicinal materials as much as possible during the decocting process to prevent them from becoming mushy.

2. What should you pay attention to when boiling Chinese medicine?

1. Chinese medicinal materials do not need to be washed

Chinese medicinal materials have been cleaned during the processing process, so patients can boil them directly after taking them home without further cleaning. If you feel that some herbs are a little dirty, you can quickly rinse them with cold water before soaking them. Do not wash them or even wash them after soaking to avoid reducing the medicinal effect.

2. Before decocting Chinese medicine, you need to soak it in tap water

The soaking time is determined according to the characteristics of the Chinese medicinal materials. Generally, the flowers, leaves, and stems of Chinese medicinal materials can be soaked for 20-30 minutes, while the main Chinese medicinal materials such as roots and fruits can be soaked for 60 minutes. The soaking time should not be too long to prevent enzymatic hydrolysis or mildew of the therapeutic drugs.

3. It is best to use a stone pot to fry Chinese medicine

Because the stone pot is heated evenly and heats up slowly, it is also a good heat insulator and is very suitable for decocting Chinese medicine. Do not use metal pots, such as frying pans, aluminum pots, etc., to prevent the ingredients in them from chemically reacting with the medicinal materials to produce toxins and harm the human body.

4. Pay attention to the water flow rate

When decocting Chinese medicine, the amount of water added should generally be 3-5 cm below the surface of the Chinese medicine. For Chinese medicine with loose color, the amount of water added can be moderately less, while for Chinese medicine with hard color, the amount of water added can be more.