一般来说，一剂药分两次服用，一般在饭后服为宜，需要和吃饭错开半小时左右。但不同药物有不同的要求，具体时间如下：
宜饭前服用的中药：（1）补益药，饭前服用利于吸收；（2）制酸止痛类胃病药物，饭前服用可以增强对胃黏膜的保护；（3）祛痰止咳平喘药，宜饭前服用；（4）驱虫药，宜空腹服用，利于驱虫。
宜饭后服用的中药：（1）解表药最好在中午饭后服用；（2）健胃药最好在饭后片刻服，以达到消食化积的作用；（3）辛辣刺激性药物宜在饭后服用，以防止刺激胃黏膜。
宜睡前服用的中药：（1）安神药应在睡前1小时左右服用，有利患者入睡；（2）润肠通便药，应睡前服用，有利于消除胃肠积滞。
此外，服用中药时也有一些注意事项，比如：
（1）服中药时忌生、冷和油腻的食物。
（2）服中药时不要喝浓茶。
（3）服中药时不能吃辣椒，特别是热性的病症。
（4）服用人参、党参期间，忌食生萝卜、绿豆。
（5）消化不良者，忌食油炸粘腻不易消化的食物。
（6）疮疡脓肿等病忌食鱼、虾、蟹等腥膻食物。
Generally speaking, one dose of medicine is taken twice a day, usually half an hour after meals. However, different kinds of medicine should be taken at different times, and the specific time for taking medicine is as follows:
Medicine taken before meals: (1) tonic medicineshould betakenbefore meals, which is conducive to absorption; (2) the medicine which inhibits gastric acidshould beusually takenbefore meals as this can enhance the protection of gastric mucosa; (3) the medicine which aims to dispel phlegm and relieve coughing shouldbetaken before meals; (4) deworming medicine should also be taken on an empty stomach, which can help repel worms.
Medicine taken after meals: (1) medicine for relieving exteriorsyndromeisbettertaken after lunch; (2) stomachic tonic isbettertaken after meals since it can help digestion; (3) some pungent or stimulant medicine should be taken after meals to prevent irritation of gastric mucosa.
Medicine taken before bed time: (1) tranquilizing medicine should be taken about an hour before going to bed, which can help patients fall asleep; (2) medicineforrelaxingthebowels should be taken before going to bed, whichcan helpeliminategastrointestinal stagnation.
Besides, there are also somecontraindicationswhen taking Chinese medicine, such as:
(1) Avoid raw, cold and greasy food while taking Chineseherbalmedicine;
(2) Do not drink strong tea while taking Chineseherbalmedicine;
(3) Don’t eat chilies, especially for patients with heat syndrome;
(4) When takingRenshen (Ginseng)andDangshen (Tangshen), avoid raw radish or mung bean;
(5) People with indigestion should avoid fried foods or sticky foods as they are not easy to digest;
(6) People with some problems such as sores or abscess should avoid fishy food such as fish, shrimp, and crab and so on.
转载自《读故事识本草：中药入门读本》
