Decoctions
Decoction is the boiling of medicines down to make a liquid extraction stronger than an infusion. Typically, an Herbal formula is boiled in water until one-third to one-half of the liquid is consumed. Sometimes Mineral and Animal products are also decocted. Sometimes, other liquid is used such as wine, or a mix of equal parts water and wine may be used. Wine is generally better to lead herbs into the blood, and is better for cold conditions; but water is the most common menstruum.
Decoctions are an effective way of taking large doses of herbs. They can extract large amounts of herbs into small portions to be taken 2 or 3 times per day. They are thus commonly used in modern TCM as an effective way of administering large doses of herbal medicines.
The primary disadvantage of Decoctions are the time needed to cook, the larger doses and therefore more expense, and the taste of the medicine. Their advantage in acute and serious disorders is that larger doses can produce greater efficacy in a shorter time.
There is generally an order to decocting:
In modern practice, often fruits, nuts, roots, barks, seeds and herbs are packaged together for easier preparation by the patient. Aromatics or flowers may be given separately to infuse in the strained decoction.
It is usually best to wash the medicines to be decocted, then to steep them in cold water for a couple of hours or overnight. Then they are gently heated to boiling while covered, then the temperature is reduce to a simmer and left to boil for either a specified time, such as half an hour, or most commonly until one-third or one-half has boiled away.
Often in the western tradition, a decoction was clarified after being strained. This involves adding beaten egg white into the strained, warm decoction, and stirring well. The particles and dross in the decoction are bound by the egg white which is they strained through a sieve or cheese cloth.
Also worth noting that the proportions given for many of the decoctions derived from the Western tradition were designed to make a large amount, of which a dose of 3 oz. or so would be taken twice or three times daily. These types of decoctions may have been in common use by the Apothecary or in Hospitals and were administered to a number of patients. Conversely, TCM formulas for decoctions typically list the amount for one person for a day.
Also worth mentioning is a method of 'slow-cooking' a decoction, without boiling. The ingredients of the formula are broken up and cut, then put into a thermos. The thermos is filled with boiling water and the lid is sealed shut. This can be left for 2–3 hours or overnight, depending on the herbs; bitter herbs would be left shorter, tonic herbs left longer. If appropriate, the herbs can be left in all day, a full regular-size thermos being enough for 3 cups over the day. This also has the advantage that all ingredients can be added together with no loss of the volatile portion due to boiling. This method has been used in places like Russia to lower the cost or when energy for long boiling has been unavailable.
Decoctions are an effective way of taking large doses of herbs. They can extract large amounts of herbs into small portions to be taken 2 or 3 times per day. They are thus commonly used in modern TCM as an effective way of administering large doses of herbal medicines.
The primary disadvantage of Decoctions are the time needed to cook, the larger doses and therefore more expense, and the taste of the medicine. Their advantage in acute and serious disorders is that larger doses can produce greater efficacy in a shorter time.
There is generally an order to decocting:
- Minerals and Shells are decocted first; Some herbs, notably Aconitum, are also decocted longer to reduce toxicity. Hard animal substances such as Horns or bones are also decocted longer. These may be decocted for 30–60 or more minutes before adding other medicines. If the minerals are beaten beforehand they require less boiling.
- Grains are generally next, followed by dried fruit and nuts.
- 15 minutes later, roots and root-bark may be added
- 15 minutes later, herbs may be added
- In the last few minutes, flowers and aromatic herbs like Mint are added, covered, and left to infuse.
- If mineral salts, gums or gelatins are used, they may be dissolved in the strained decoction.
- If a formula contains expensive substances such as Pearl, Amber, Horns, Ginseng or Saffron, for example, they may be powdered and taken along with the decoction.
In modern practice, often fruits, nuts, roots, barks, seeds and herbs are packaged together for easier preparation by the patient. Aromatics or flowers may be given separately to infuse in the strained decoction.
It is usually best to wash the medicines to be decocted, then to steep them in cold water for a couple of hours or overnight. Then they are gently heated to boiling while covered, then the temperature is reduce to a simmer and left to boil for either a specified time, such as half an hour, or most commonly until one-third or one-half has boiled away.
Often in the western tradition, a decoction was clarified after being strained. This involves adding beaten egg white into the strained, warm decoction, and stirring well. The particles and dross in the decoction are bound by the egg white which is they strained through a sieve or cheese cloth.
Also worth noting that the proportions given for many of the decoctions derived from the Western tradition were designed to make a large amount, of which a dose of 3 oz. or so would be taken twice or three times daily. These types of decoctions may have been in common use by the Apothecary or in Hospitals and were administered to a number of patients. Conversely, TCM formulas for decoctions typically list the amount for one person for a day.
Also worth mentioning is a method of 'slow-cooking' a decoction, without boiling. The ingredients of the formula are broken up and cut, then put into a thermos. The thermos is filled with boiling water and the lid is sealed shut. This can be left for 2–3 hours or overnight, depending on the herbs; bitter herbs would be left shorter, tonic herbs left longer. If appropriate, the herbs can be left in all day, a full regular-size thermos being enough for 3 cups over the day. This also has the advantage that all ingredients can be added together with no loss of the volatile portion due to boiling. This method has been used in places like Russia to lower the cost or when energy for long boiling has been unavailable.
Chinese Decoctions
Ba Zhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction)
Bai He Gu Jin Tang (Lily bulb Decoction)
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinella, Atractylodes & Gastrodia Decoction)
Ban Xia Hou Po Tang (Pinella and Magnolia Bark Decoction)
Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang (Tonify the Yang Restore Five (-Tenths) Decoction)
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify Middle Decoction)
Da Cheng Qi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction)
Da Chai Hu Tang (Greater Bupleurum Decoction)
Da Ding Feng Zhu (Major Arrest Wind Pearl)
Da Qing Long Tang (Major Bluegreen Dragon Decoction)
Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (Tonify Blood Decoction)
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang (Dang Gui Six Yellow Decoction)
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Angelica & Mistletoe Decoct)
Fu Zi Tang (Aconite Decoction)
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang (Drive out Blood Stasis Below the Diaphragm Decoction)
Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction)
Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang (Cinnamon twig & Aconite Decoct.)
Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang (Cinnamon twig, Peony & Anemarrhena Decoction)
Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon twig Decoction)
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Anti-Toxin Decoction)
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang (Poria, Cinnamon twig, Atractylodes and Licorice Decoction)
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang (Antelope horn & Uncaria Decoction)
Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction)
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentian Liver Decoction)
Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction)
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang (Ephedra, Almond, Gypsum & Licorice Decoction)
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang (Decoction of Licorice & Peony)
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Pubescent Angelica & Mistletoe Decoction)
Er Chen Tang (Two Cured Decoction)
Fu Zi Tang (Aconite Decoction)
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Drive Out Blood Stasis in the Lower Abdomen Decoction)
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (All-Inclusive Great Tonifying Decoction)
Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction)
Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction)
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (Gastrodia & Uncaria Decoction)
Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin (Five-Ingredient Decoction to Eliminate Toxin)
Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Lesser Bupleurum Decoction)
Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction)
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen with Costus and Amomum)
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Drive out Stasis from the Chest Decoction)
You Gui Yin (Restore the Right [Kidney] Decoction)
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang (Sedate Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction)
Zhen Wu Tang (True Warrior Deoction)
Zuo Gui Yin (Restore the Left [Kidney] Decoction)
Decoction from Other Systems
Amomum 4 (Ko la 4) (Tibetan Medicine)
Caraway 5 Decoction (Go snyod 5 Thang) (Tibetan Medicine) NEW 2/23
Catechu 4 (Seng ldeng 4) (Tibetan Medicine)
Garlic Milk (Lasuna Kshira) (Ayurveda)
Norbu 7 Decoction (Norbu bdun thang) NEW 2/23
Rhodiola Four Decoction (Sro lo bzhi thang) (Tibetan Medicine)
Tinospora 5 Decoction (Sle tres lnga thang) (Tibetan Medicine)
Tribulus 3 Decoction (Gze ma gsum thang) (Tibetan Medicine)
Tumeric Decoction 4 (Yung ba 4) (Tibetan Medicine)
Bai He Gu Jin Tang (Lily bulb Decoction)
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinella, Atractylodes & Gastrodia Decoction)
Ban Xia Hou Po Tang (Pinella and Magnolia Bark Decoction)
Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang (Tonify the Yang Restore Five (-Tenths) Decoction)
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify Middle Decoction)
Da Cheng Qi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction)
Da Chai Hu Tang (Greater Bupleurum Decoction)
Da Ding Feng Zhu (Major Arrest Wind Pearl)
Da Qing Long Tang (Major Bluegreen Dragon Decoction)
Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (Tonify Blood Decoction)
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang (Dang Gui Six Yellow Decoction)
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Angelica & Mistletoe Decoct)
Fu Zi Tang (Aconite Decoction)
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang (Drive out Blood Stasis Below the Diaphragm Decoction)
Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction)
Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang (Cinnamon twig & Aconite Decoct.)
Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang (Cinnamon twig, Peony & Anemarrhena Decoction)
Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon twig Decoction)
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Anti-Toxin Decoction)
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang (Poria, Cinnamon twig, Atractylodes and Licorice Decoction)
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang (Antelope horn & Uncaria Decoction)
Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction)
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentian Liver Decoction)
Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction)
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang (Ephedra, Almond, Gypsum & Licorice Decoction)
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang (Decoction of Licorice & Peony)
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Pubescent Angelica & Mistletoe Decoction)
Er Chen Tang (Two Cured Decoction)
Fu Zi Tang (Aconite Decoction)
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Drive Out Blood Stasis in the Lower Abdomen Decoction)
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (All-Inclusive Great Tonifying Decoction)
Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction)
Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction)
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (Gastrodia & Uncaria Decoction)
Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin (Five-Ingredient Decoction to Eliminate Toxin)
Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Lesser Bupleurum Decoction)
Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction)
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen with Costus and Amomum)
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Drive out Stasis from the Chest Decoction)
You Gui Yin (Restore the Right [Kidney] Decoction)
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang (Sedate Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction)
Zhen Wu Tang (True Warrior Deoction)
Zuo Gui Yin (Restore the Left [Kidney] Decoction)
Decoction from Other Systems
Amomum 4 (Ko la 4) (Tibetan Medicine)
Caraway 5 Decoction (Go snyod 5 Thang) (Tibetan Medicine) NEW 2/23
Catechu 4 (Seng ldeng 4) (Tibetan Medicine)
Garlic Milk (Lasuna Kshira) (Ayurveda)
Norbu 7 Decoction (Norbu bdun thang) NEW 2/23
Rhodiola Four Decoction (Sro lo bzhi thang) (Tibetan Medicine)
Tinospora 5 Decoction (Sle tres lnga thang) (Tibetan Medicine)
Tribulus 3 Decoction (Gze ma gsum thang) (Tibetan Medicine)
Tumeric Decoction 4 (Yung ba 4) (Tibetan Medicine)