How to decoct medicine

Washing the pot
Pot used for decocting medicine should be washed thoroughly.

• To prevent medicinal dregs from staying in the pot


• To prevent interfering with the properties and effectiveness of the next brew


• To prevent dregs from setting at the bottom of bot and becoming burnt

Soaking the medicinal herbs

• Soak the herbs in cold water between 30 minutes to an hour.


• Do not wash the medicinal herbs

Amount of water added

• Distilled water will be most ideal to decoct Chinese medicine


• Water level should be about 3-4cm above the drugs


• *Some drugs float, so take note of the drugs before adding the water

The duration of decoction
*To be decocted at least twice

Medicine for general ailments

First decoction: Bring to boil and cook for 30 minutes
Second decoction: Bring to boil and cook for 20 minutes

Medicine to dispel exterior heat syndrome

First decoction: Bring to boil and cook for 8-10 minutes
Second decoction: Bring to boil and cook for 5 minutes

Nourishing medicine

First decoction: Bring to boil and cook for 60 minutes
Second decoction: Bring to boil and cook for 30 minutes

Taking the medicine (depends on the nature of the medicine)

Consumption before a meal: Nourishing medicine

Consumption after a meal: Medicine to dipel wind and dampness
Medicine that is strong on the stomach

Consumption on an empty stomach: Medicine to kill parasites and treat constipation

Consumption before bedtime: Medicine to settle the mind and heart

Consumption without restricted timing: Medicine to treat exterior syndrome or acute illness

Lotus Seed (Lian Zi)

Action:
Strengthens the spleen and relieves diarrhoea

• Treats diarrhoea due to deficiency of the spleen

Benefits the kidney to preserve essence, keeps the heart-fire and the kidnet-water in balance

• For palpitation, vexation, insomnia, soreness, weakness of the back and lower extremities

Nourishes the heart and calms the mind

• Treats palpitation, insomnia, amnesia, etc

Quality Herb:

The good one is big and full-grained in shape, powdery and not infested by moths.

Storage:

Keep in dry and well-ventilated place.
Protect from moths, mould and mice.

Red Sage Root (Dan Shen)

Source:

Red Sage Root is the root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhizd Bunge

Action:
Invigorates blood and dispels stasis

Treats gynaecological disorders such as irregular menses, amenorrhea and post-partum abdominal pain.

Clears heat and soothes irritability

Relieve chest, epigastric and abdominal pain

For restlessness, irritability, palpitations and insomnia due to heat in nutritive (ying) level

Cools blood and reduces abscesses

Reduce swelling in toxic sores and breast abscesses.

Cools blood to treat symptoms of febrile disorders

Nourishes the blood and calms the spirit

Treats palpitations and insomnia due to heat in ying and xue levels and heat surrounding the heart.

Quality Herb:
A good Danshen root is thick in depth and has a purplish red colour.

Ground Beetle (Di Bie Chong)

Action:
Promotes blood flow, removes blood stasis.

Relieves pain, amenorrhea due blood stasis, abdominal pain due to stasis after delivery.

Heals fractured bones, injured muscles and tendons.

Characteristics of Herb.

Shape

Flat and oval in shape, 1.3-3cm in length, 1.2-2.4cm in width

Surface

Narrow on top and wide at bottom, purplish browm at the back with gloass and no wings

Texture

The mass is fragile, easy to break

Nature and Flavour

The smell is foul and has a slightly salty flavour

Common Aches

Headache

Headaches are caused by blood stasis result from external injury, prolonged illness, and are characterised by pain in specific areas or spots on the tongue.


Recommended : Szechuan lovage rhizome tea with rock sugar, motherwort congee and chrysanthemum tea.

Waist Ache

Waist aches are usually caused by traumatic injury or weariness from overwork. They often occur in specific areas and may worsen at night. The patient's face and lips may turn dark, and the tongue may also turn green with spots.

Recommended: Safflower and pig's liver soup, eucommia bark wine.




Gastric Pain
The patient may experience these symptons, pain in specific areas, tongue turns purple, black stools and vomiting of dark purplish blood.

Recommeded: Safflower tea mixed with honey and red sugar, ruhbarb and flatsedge root soup.
When in great pain, add an adequate amount of notoginseng root and corydalis rhizome powder.

Mix and Match Answer

Here's the answer for 'mix and match'.


So, do you get it all right?

Mix and Match

Match the appropriate herbs(black) to its category(blue).



Have Fun! The answers could be found in Book 3- Improving Blood Circulation.

Good luck to all!

Improving Blood Circulation

This book will cover the following

Blood-Activating Herbs

• Herbs for relieving pain


• Herbs for regulating menstruation


• Herbs for healing


• Herbs for removing blood stasis

Hemostatic Herbs

• Herbs for blood cooling


• Herbs for clearing blood stasis


• Herbs for warming the meridians


• Herbs for retarding bleeding

Astringent Herbs

• Herbs for reducing perspiration


• Herbs for Astringing Lungs and Intestines


• Herbs for Arresting Leujorrhagia and Reducing Urination

The main focus for the book will be under the 'Questions and Answers' section whereby it explains "why do the elderly need to be cautious about the frequent use of Red Sage Root?" It provides an in-depth explanation about the usage of Red Sage Root and whether is it the ultimate medicine to cure common illnesses among the elderly.

Herbs commonly used in beauty treatment

Rejuvenation and anti-wrinkle treatment
Ginseng, Fresh rehmannia root, dodder seed, Chinese angelica root, pilose antler and etc.

Moisturing and whitening the complexion
Greenbrier rhizome, dried silkworm, dittany bark, winter melon seed, pearl and etc

Moisturing and improving circulation to the skin
Peach flower, walnut seed, chaste-tree fruit, wild ginger, almond and etc

Removal of skin discolouration
Typhonium tuber, Magnolia flower, costus root, cloves, musk and etc

Removal of warts
Almond, pearl, argyi leaf, rhubarb, coix

Maintaining black hair
Fleeceflower root, astragalus root, chuanxiong rhizome, red sage root, wolfberry and etc.

Interested in knowing certain common herbs used in beauty treatment?

Watch this space for new updates!

Puzzle Answer

Puzzle (Book 1 and 2)

Try out this crossword puzzle.