中药材采收是指药用部分的采集、收获的方法。中药材包括植物类药材、动物类药材和矿物类药材。植物类药材和动物类药材的采收需要注意采收期，也就是需要选择药用部位产量高、有效成分含量高、并且容易采集的时候采收。如植物类根和地下茎的采收一般在秋天和早春采收，此时药用部位产量最大；树皮类药材一般在春末夏初时候采收，此时植物生长旺盛，韧皮部营养物质丰富，而且树皮容易剥离，剥皮后树木伤口容易愈合；动物类药材的采收时间也很重要，如鹿茸一定在茸角骨化前采收，林蛙油一定在雌蛙产卵前采收。
中药材在采集以后，应采取一定的加工处理，以便于贮藏。中药材贮藏需要注意防止中药材虫蛀、霉变、变色、风化、粘连、酸败等。通过采取针对性方法进行贮存，确保药物的安全有效。在中药材贮存过程中需要注意中药材含水量，一般情况中药材水分需要控制在15%以下，保持中药材贮存过程中通风、透气、干燥、避光，有些药材如冰片、芒硝等需要密封保持。
The collection of Chineseherbal medicinerefers to the collection and harvesting of medicinal parts. Chinese medicinal materials include plant medicinal materials, animal medicinal materials and mineral medicinal materials.Theplant medicinal materials and animal medicinal materials shouldbe collectedwhen the medicinal parts have high yieldandhigh content of active ingredients and are easy to collect. For example, the roots and underground stems of plants are generally harvested in autumn and early spring when the yield of medicinal parts is the largest.Bark medicinal materials are generally harvested at the end of spring and the beginning of summer, because at this timethe plants grow vigorously, the phloem is rich in nutrients, the bark is easy to peel, and the wound of the tree is easy to heal afterpeeling. Collection time is also quiteessentialfor animal medicinal materials. For example, velvetantlershouldbe harvested before the antlers are ossified, and Linwayou (DriedOvidustFat of ChineseForestFrog)shouldbe collected before female frogs lay eggs.
Chinese medicinal materials should be processedfor betterstorage after collection. During the storage of Chinese medicinal materials,special efforts should be madeto prevent the Chinese medicinal materials fromworms, mildew, discoloration, weathering, adhesion and rancidity.Therefore, proper measures can be taken to ensurethe safety and effectiveness of medicinal materials. During the storage of Chinese herbal medicines, attentionshouldbe paid to the water contentwhich shouldbekeptbelow 15%. Besides,ventilation, drynessand protectionfromlightshouldbe maintained during the storage of Chinese herbal medicines.Some medicinal materials such as borneol and mirabilite need to be sealed.
转载自《读故事识本草：中药入门读本》
