The decocting and taking methods of herbal medicines

전통적인 한약의 전탕법과 복용법에 대한 현대적 고찰

The decocting method of herbal medicines is various with a prescription or herbal medicine's characteristics. But it has common principles by which effective elements can be easily extracted with synergistic actions of herbs and which the therapeutic effect of a medicine is amplified. When decocting a herbal medicine, the volume of water is an important factor. Fire for decocting drugs and decocting time are also important factors. The excessive water and unproper decocting time and temperature can reduce the effect of the decoction. Besides a better decoction can be obtained by squeeze. According to herbal medicine's characteristics and prescription, there are herbs that should be treated after a specific method. For example, decoct first and decoct later. It also affects the therapeutic if a right taking method is not carried out. Methods of taking drugs include both the time and the method. We can confirm these decocting and taking methods in the ancient medical literatures of herbal medicine. This article deals with these things in detail.