中药的煎制有一定的要求，但只要掌握好正确的方法就很简单，大家有机会的话可以亲自尝试一下。
（一）煎药工具：
煎煮中药最好用砂锅、陶器、瓦罐等，也可用搪瓷器皿或不锈钢锅。切忌用铁、铝、锡、铜等金属容器，因为金属容易和中药产生化学反应而影响疗效。
（二）煎药过程：
煎药可以用自来水或是凉开水。中药一般要煎两次。首次煎煮（一煎）前将一剂中药饮片材料放入煲内，加入清水没过药物2至3厘米，一般药物浸泡30分钟，可以帮助有效成分煎出，浸泡药材的水不用倒掉，直接和药材一起煮，先用大火煎沸，然后改用小火再煎20-30分钟，之后滤取药液。再次煎煮（二煎）时，不用再浸泡，加水淹没药物即可，依上法煎煮，取第二次药液。将两次药液混匀，遵医嘱服用。
（三）煎药时间：
煎煮的时间都是从药液煮沸后开始计算。解表类药（比如治感冒的药物）：头煎需10-15分钟，二煎需10分钟左右。一般类药（比如治咳嗽的药物）：头煎需20-25分钟，二煎需15-20分钟。滋补类药（比如调理的药物）：头煎需40-50分钟，二煎需25-30分钟。
（四）特殊药物：
还有一些药物需要用特殊的方法来煎煮，这些药物，药房工作人员会单独包装。
“先煎药”：一般是矿物、贝壳类、角甲类或有毒性的药物，如石膏、牡蛎、龟甲、附子等，需要先用少量水煮沸10-15分钟，然后再与其它药同煎。
“后下药”：一般是含有挥发油的药物，如薄荷、紫苏、广藿香等，在头煎结束前的五分钟时，放入药锅内同煎5分钟即可。
“包煎药”：有些药材质地极细或过轻，煎煮时容易漂浮在药液面上，有些药材含淀粉、黏液质较多，煎煮时容易粘锅、糊化，有些药材有毛或杂质，容易刺激咽喉或消化道。如车前子、辛夷等，就需要用纱布包裹好再煎。
“烊化药”：烊化是指把胶类药物放入水中或煎好的药液中溶化，再倒入药液中搅拌均匀服用，比如阿胶、鹿角胶等。
“冲服药”：一般是粉剂药物，如羚羊角粉，将药调入煎好药汁或开水中冲服。
There are certain requirements for the decoction of Chinese medicine, but it would be very simple as long as you master the correct method. Why nothave atry when it’s possible?
(1) Decoctiontools:
It would be better to decoct Chineseherbalmedicine with casserole, pottery, or crock pots, etc. Enamel or stainless steel potscan also be used. But never use iron, aluminum, tin, copper and other metal containers, because chemical reactions are easy to be triggeredwhenmetal containersareused,and thus the medical effectswillbe reduced.
(2) Decoction process:
Either tap water or cold boiled water is suitable for decoction. Themedicinal materialsneed to be decocted twice. Before the first decoction, put a dose ofmedicinal materialsinto the pot, and then add water into the pot until the water is 2 to 3 centimeters higher than themedicinal materials. Then let it soak for 30 minutes, because soaking can help get more effective ingredients fromthe medicinal materialsduring decoction. The water needn’ttobe poured out.Use intense fire until the water is boiled, and thenlet itsimmeron slow firefor 20-30 minutes. Filter the liquid.The next step is the second decoction. Add water and submerge themedicinal materialsbut there is no need for another soaking. Then follow the procedures in the first decoction. After getting the liquid, mix the two fluids and take them by following the doctor’s advice.
(3) Decoction time:
Decoction time is calculated after the water is boiled. The medicine for relieving the exterior syndrome (like medicine for cold): 10-15 minutes for the first decoction, and 10 minutes for the second decoction. The common medicine (like medicine for coughs): 20-25 minutes for the first decoction, and 15-20 minutes for the second decoction. Nourishing medicine (like medicine for conditioning human bodies): 40-50 minutes for the first decoction, and 25-30 minutes for the second decoction.
(4) Special medicines:
There are some medicines that need to be decocted in special ways. These medicines will be packaged separately by pharmacists.
“Decocted earlier”: Generally speaking, minerals, shells, horns or toxicmedicines, such asShigao (Gypsum),Muli (CommonOysterShell),Guijia (Tortose’sCarapae andPlastron),Fuzi (PreparedDaughterRoot of Common Monkshood), etc., need to be boiled with a small amount of water for 10-15 minutes before they can be decocted together with other herbs.
“Decocted later”: Some herbs containing volatile oils, such asBohe (Peppermint),Zisu (PerillaLeaf),Guanghuoxiang(CablinPotchouliHerb), etc., can be put in thepotfive minutes before the end of the first decoction and decocted for 5 minutes.
“Wrappedmedicine”: Somematerialsare toofine orlight, and they are likely to float on the surface of the liquid during decoction; somematerialscontain much starch or mucus, easy to stick to thepotor even cause gelatinization; somematerialshave hairsor impurities, which can easily irritate the throat or digestive tract. Thesematerialssuch asCheqianzi(PlantainSeed) andXinyi (MagnoliaFlower)need to be wrapped with gauze during decoction.
“Melting method”: This method means to melt some kinds of gelatinmedicinesin the water or decocted liquid, and then put the meltedmaterialstogether with the decocted liquid beforebeing taken. Such drugs includeEjiao (DonkeyHideGelatin)orLujiaojiao (AntlerGelatin), etc.
“Mixing method”: Generally, some kinds of powder medicines, such asLingyangjiao Fen (Powderof AntelopeHorn), will be mixed into the decoction or boiled water before being taken.
转载自《读故事识本草：中药入门读本》
