Traditional Chinese medicine is widely loved by modern people. Whether for health preservation or disease prevention and treatment, most people’s first choice is traditional Chinese medicine or proprietary Chinese medicine because of its small side effects and affordable prices. Nowadays, people’s work and life rhythm are fast, and there is not so much time to decoct traditional Chinese medicine at home. Directly decocting medicine from the hospital is convenient, fast and time-saving, but some people worry that the efficacy of decocted medicine is not as good as self-decoction.
Is the efficacy of decocted medicine really not as good as self-decoction?
The answer is no. Self-decocting medicine is usually decocted at normal pressure in small amounts. The decocted medicine is stored for too long, which can easily lead to oxidation reaction, darken the color and reduce the curative effect of the medicine. Therefore, the storage time of self-decocted medicine is short, no more than 24 hours. Decocted medicine is usually decocted in a closed pressurized decoction machine, which can decoct the total amount of medicine prescribed at one time and separate the packages according to the prescribed dosage. For those who are busy with work or life and do not have enough time for self-decoction, it is recommended to decoct through regular hospitals, so as to take medicine in time and avoid missing medication. The decoction machine usually needs to decoct one week’s medicine at a time. The amount of water added has certain requirements, but it will not affect the curative effect of the medicine within a reasonable range.
What are the advantages of decocted medicine?
1. Hygiene
The whole process is completed in a closed environment, whether decoction or canning, which can effectively kill bacteria and spores to obtain sterile and hygienic medicine liquid.
2. Easy to decoct effective ingredients
Some traditional Chinese medicines have hard textures. Through high-temperature and high-pressure decoction, effective ingredients can be decocted to exert their medicinal effects.
3. Filter residue
Most modern decoction machines have multiple filtration functions to obtain medicine liquid with little residue and light color.
4. Long storage time
The packaging bags of decocted medicine are usually made of composite membranes with good pressure resistance and temperature resistance. Storing them in the refrigerator can last up to 30 days.
Is longer decoction time of traditional Chinese medicine better?
Of course not. The properties of each traditional Chinese medicine are different. Too long decoction time of some traditional Chinese medicines can damage their properties and reduce the curative effect of the medicine. Some traditional Chinese medicine pieces use special decoction methods such as pre-decoction, post-addition and stewing. The decoction machine can set the soaking and decoction time to formulate an appropriate decoction method according to the situation.
A warm reminder
The soup medicine just taken out of the refrigerator cannot be taken immediately. It needs to be put into hot water with the packaging bag, heated to about 40°C, shaken evenly and then taken. Tonic medicines should be taken on an empty stomach; medicines that stimulate the gastrointestinal tract should be arranged after meals; sedative medicines should be arranged before bedtime. If missing medication occurs, just take the normal amount of medicine next time, and do not take two bags at a time. When taking traditional Chinese medicine, stay away from greasy, raw, cold and spicy irritating foods, otherwise the curative effect of the medicine will be affected.