Decoctions/

Teas/

Soups

(Tang)

1)       placed in water or mixed w/wine and water

2)       boiled for a specified time

3)       liquid is strained from the dregs

4)       ingested from the mouth

• most common

• require no special equipment for preparation

• easily ingested

• easily absorbed

• strongly affects the patient

• changes lifestyle: allows the patient to participate in the healing process

• can be customized to better treat the client’s needs

• time consuming

• aromatic

• expensive

• usually bad tasting

Boiled Powders/ Drafts

(San)

1)       ingredients are ground up

2)       sifted into a uniform powder

3)       draft: boil powder for a short time (10 min.) in a small amount of water  (1-1½ cups)

4)       ingested (after strained from dregs), applied externally (skin conditions), or blown into nose or throat (localized disorders)

• convenient preparation

• long storage time

• inexpensive

• easily absorbed (medicinal action rate is between that of pills and decoctions)

Pills

(Wan)

1)       ingredients are finely ground and pulverized

2)       viscous medium is added (honey, water, wax, or paste concentrates)

3)       round pills are formed

• specified in different sizes

• easily stored

• easily ingested

• inexpensive

• generally used for chronic deficient disorders

• can be stored for quickly treating acute disorders

• first choice for non-decocted administration

• dissolves in intestines so it prevents gastric irritation

• absorbed slowly

Pills made w/ honey

(bolus)

(Mi Wan)

1)       ground herbs mixed w/honey

2)       honey is heated to preserve adhesive characteristics and to make it easier to work with

3)       mix beeswax and sesame oil to prevent it from sticking to utensils

• makes pills moist and lubricating

• moderates (harmonizes) other herbs in formula

• tonifies

• 1-2cm dia.

Pills made w/liquids

(Shui Wan)

1)       ground herbs mixed w/water, wine, vinegar, or strained decoction

• small (2-5mm dia.)

• easy to swallow

• easily digested

• most common type of prepared medicine in China

Pills made w/pastes

(Hu Wan)

1)       ground herbs mixed w/paste made from rice or wheat flour

• reduces irritation to the digestive tract

• extremely viscous: absorbed slowly

Pills made from concentrates

(Nong Suo Wan)

1)       made from concentrated strained decoction w/ the addition of a starch or dried and powdered dregs from the decoction

2)       water and wine may be added at certain times during procesing

• contains large amount of active ingredients per volume (concentrated potency)

• very convenient

Special Pills

(Dan)

1)       are highly refined and expensive substances (ground into fine powder)

2)       viscous medium is added (honey, water, wax, or paste concentrates)

3)       round pills are formed; also called “vermilion pills,” coated with cinnabaris for protection and enhancing the calming function

• specially processed

• usually very expensive

Soft Extracts

(Gao)

1)       ingredients simmered w/water or vegetable oil until syrupy or gummy concentrate forms

2)       applied externally as plasters for skin disorders or trauma

3)       common internal soft extracts: prolonged decoction, liquid extraction, and semi-solid extraction

Plaster Medicine

[external]

(Gao Yao)

1)       slowly simmering ingredients in vegetable oil (sesame)

2)       discard residue

3)       add beeswax

4)       store on paper or cloth

5)       if stored, the plaster is heated prior to placement on the skin

• good for dermatological and rheumatological disorders, fractures and sprains, and immobile masses

Medicinal Plaster

[external]

(Yao Gao)

1)       add powdered ingredients to heated mixture of oil and beeswax

Syrups from prolonged decoction

[internal]

(Gao Zi)

1)       repeatedly decoct ingredients to a specific concentration

2)       finally cook w/honey or sugar into a syrup or gel-like extract

• easy to take

• sweet

• tonifying, enriching

Liquid extractions

[internal]

(Liu Jin Gao)

1)       soak ingredients in a solvent (usually alcohol) to extract the active ingredients

2)       heat result to dispose of a specified percentage of the solvent (1ml liquid extraction contains 1g active ingredients)

• more concentrated than tinctures: less alcohol needs to be ingested in order to get the same amount of active ingredient

Semi-solid extracts

[internal]

(Jin Gao)

1)       sim to above, except: heat until all solvent is gone (1g of extract contains 2-5g active ingredient)

2)       either fashioned into tablets, pills, or capsules

• effective and convenient

• no side-effects associated w/solvent

Syrups

(Tang Jiang)

1)       strain liquid from decoction

2)       add specified quantity of cane sugar

• sweet

• good for TX children

• most appropriate for chronic disorders, cough or sore throat

Medicinal Wine

(Jiu/Yao)

Sim. to internal soft extracts:

1)       soak ingredients in rice, sorghum, or other spirits (alcohol as solvent)

2)       warm wine

3)       discard dregs

4)       apply internally or externally

• wine nourishes, invigorates blood, and unblock the channels

• good for TX chronic deficiency

• good for TX wind-damp or traumatic pain

Lozenges

(Ding)

1)       grind ingredients into powder

2)       form into ingot-shaped tablets (sometimes w/honey, paste, etc.)

3)       grind lozenge into thick liquid before taking

4)       apply internally or externally

Tablets/

Capsules/

Drops

(Pian)

1)       extract active ingredients

2)       add filler (honey, etc.)

3)       form tablet (usually under pressure)

• high tech, highly refined

• often containing western pharmaceuticals

Granules

(Chong Fu)

1)       concentrate the decoction ingredients into a thick semi-liquid

2)       add stabilizer (starch or ground dregs from decoction) and thoroughly mix

3)       make into granules or powder by sifting through a series of sieves

4)       crush granules

5)       dry granules

• prolonged potency retention during storage

• quickly absorbed

• stronger-acting than most pills and tablets

• convenient

• require less medicine per volume than decoctions or syrups

Injections

(Zhen)

1)       extract active ingredients w/ modern methods

2)       prepare a sterile solution

3)       administer injection (subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously)

• precise and quick delivery

• unaffected by digestive system or foods

• more convenient than decoctions in hospital setting