Patient's question:
The baby is boiling traditional Chinese medicine. The doctor instructed to boil one dose twice. The first time, boil for forty minutes and pour it out, then add water and boil for another thirty minutes. Combine the two boils and drink one small bowl of the remaining liquid for a week. The first time I boiled it, only half a small bowl was left. Does this affect the efficacy of the medicine? Is the timing so strict? Can I add water if there is not enough water in the middle?Doctor's answer:
According to your description, conventional Chinese medicine uses high-quality herbs soaked in 2~3 cm of clean water for 30~60 minutes. Then, use high heat to heat the pot and slowly simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes. Pour out the decoction and set it aside. For the third decoction, add clean water and heat it with high heat again, then slowly simmer over low heat for about 25 minutes. Mix the decoction of the third decoction with the decoction of the second decoction, and take it warm after meals. However, flowers, grasses, heat-clearing herbs, and aromatic herbs generally only need to be decocted for about 15 minutes. Tonic herbs should be slowly simmered over low heat for about 40~60 minutes. The specific decoction preparation should follow the doctor's guidance.