Processing methods for herbs
HO CHEE MENG
Crafting high-quality traditional Chinese medicine products through the combination of traditional craftsmanship and scientific methods
Our Approach to Processing Herbal Medicines
Herbal medicines can generally be divided into two categories: root and rhizome. Root herbs usually refer to the parts dug from the root of a plant, such as ginseng and astragalus. Rhizome herbs refer to the parts dug from the root and stem of a plant, such as angelica and dog's tooth root. Both types of herbs have their unique features and medicinal values.
Many traditional Chinese herbs are usually processed and treated by methods such as washing, steaming, and drying. These methods can not only remove impurities in the herbs but also improve the quality and efficacy of the herbs. However, different herbs require different treatment methods. Therefore, when using herbal medicines, one should select based on the specific properties and quality of the herbs.
HO CHEE MENG
Crafting high-quality traditional Chinese medicine products through the combination of traditional craftsmanship and scientific methods
Our Approach to Processing Herbal Medicines
Herbal medicines can generally be divided into two categories: root and rhizome. Root herbs usually refer to the parts dug from the root of a plant, such as ginseng and astragalus. Rhizome herbs refer to the parts dug from the root and stem of a plant, such as angelica and dog's tooth root. Both types of herbs have their unique features and medicinal values.
Many traditional Chinese herbs are usually processed and treated by methods such as washing, steaming, and drying. These methods can not only remove impurities in the herbs but also improve the quality and efficacy of the herbs. However, different herbs require different treatment methods. Therefore, when using herbal medicines, one should select based on the specific properties and quality of the herbs.
Washing
The reasons for washing Chinese herbal medicines are as follows. First of all, washing can remove surface impurities such as soil, dust, insect eggs, and bacteria, ensuring the purity and hygiene of Chinese herbal medicines. Secondly, washing can effectively remove pesticide residues, reducing the harm of Chinese herbal medicines to the human body. In addition, washed Chinese herbal medicines taste better and can better reflect their medicinal value. Most importantly, washing can remove impurities and unnecessary components in Chinese herbal medicines, enhance the efficacy and make the effect more pure.
It should be noted that the active ingredients of Chinese herbal medicines are mostly volatile oils, volatile oils, alkaloids, etc., which are easily dissolved by water. Therefore, if the soaking time is too long, these components will be dissolved by water and the efficacy will be reduced. To avoid this situation, it is generally recommended that the soaking time of Chinese herbal medicines should not be too long, generally about 10 minutes is appropriate.
Steaming
Steaming herbal medicines has several benefits. It can release beneficial components in the herbs, making them easier for the body to absorb and utilize. In addition, steaming herbal medicines can enhance the aroma and taste of the herbs, making them more palatable and easier to consume. Steamed herbal medicines can also be used to make herbal pastes, herbal oils, and other herbal preparations for external use.
From a scientific perspective, steaming herbal medicines facilitates the easier extraction of chemical components from the herbs, thus enhancing their efficacy. The high-temperature steam can break down the cell walls of the herbs, making the active ingredients easier to release. At the same time, the steam can help the volatile components in the herbs to evaporate more quickly, avoiding the loss of volatile components caused by traditional decoction methods. Therefore, steaming herbal medicines can improve the therapeutic effect and stability of the herbal medicines.
The duration of steaming herbal medicines depends on the type of herb and its purpose. Generally speaking, the steaming time of herbal medicines usually ranges from 15 minutes to 1 hour. The specific time can be referred to the relevant herbal formula and usage instructions, or consulted with a professional traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
Drying
Drying herbal medicines serves two main purposes: to extend their shelf life and enhance stability, and to activate the chemical components in the herbs to enhance their efficacy. The temperature for drying herbal medicines varies depending on the type and purpose of the herb, generally between 50 and 80 degrees Celsius. Controlling temperature and ventilation is crucial to prevent damage to the quality of the herbs from excessive heat and humidity. The duration of drying herbal medicines also varies depending on the type and purpose of the herb, typically requiring turning every two hours for further drying, or crushing the prepared medicine for drying, and can last from several hours to several days.
The scientific method to determine the optimal drying temperature and duration involves comparing the weight of the dried herbs with that of the undried herbs, as well as using a microscope to compare the differences in morphology and structure between the dried and undried herbs. The moisture content of the herbs can also be measured using physical or chemical methods, with the moisture content of the dried herbs expected to be lower than that of the undried herbs. These methods can be used to verify whether the herbs have been properly dried.
Therefore, the drying of herbal medicines should be tailored to the type and purpose of the herb to determine the optimal temperature and duration, with careful control of temperature and ventilation to ensure the best quality and effectiveness of the herbs.