The famous physician of the Qing Dynasty, Xu Lingtai, said: “The recovery from illness is not only dependent on whether the prescription is appropriate for the disease, but also on the method of taking the medicine. If the prescription is suitable but the method of administration is incorrect, it will not only be ineffective but may also be harmful; this is something that must be understood.”
From this, it is evident that the effectiveness of taking Chinese medicine depends not only on whether the prescription is appropriate but also on the method of administration. This can be specifically understood in terms of timing, dosage, and temperature of the medicine.
1. Timing of AdministrationChinese medicine decoctions are a commonly used form in TCM, and choosing the correct time to take the medicine greatly enhances its efficacy. So, how should we understand the various times indicated on the prescription?1. Taking Medicine on an Empty Stomach in the MorningIn the morning, it is advisable to take tonifying medicines, especially those that tonify kidney yang, before breakfast to facilitate the full absorption of the tonifying herbs. Medicines for treating blood vessel diseases in the limbs should also be taken on an empty stomach to allow the medicine to quickly enter the gastrointestinal tract and maintain a high concentration for rapid efficacy. Diuretics and emetics should also be taken on an empty stomach in the morning.2. Afternoon AdministrationIn the afternoon or evening, it is advisable to take purgative medicines (such as Da Cheng Qi Decoction). Purgatives should be taken after the hour of Si (around 9-11 AM) and before Wu (around 11 AM to 1 PM), as other physicians also agree that purgatives should not be taken in the morning.3. Taking Medicine Before SleepThis generally refers to taking medicine 15-30 minutes before sleep to allow the medicine to take effect in a timely manner. Typically, tonics for the heart and spleen, calming and sedative medicines, as well as those for treating stagnation, chest obstruction, and enuresis are often taken before sleep (or as directed by a physician).4. Overnight AdministrationThis mainly refers to anthelmintic medicines, which are generally taken once before sleep and again on an empty stomach the next morning to facilitate full absorption and help expel the parasites.5. Taking Medicine on an Empty Stomach Before MealsGenerally, medicine should be taken 30-60 minutes before meals to allow the medicinal properties to be effectively delivered. For diseases located in the lower part of the body (such as intestinal issues, liver and kidney deficiencies, or conditions below the waist), it is advisable to take the medicine on an empty stomach before meals. In this state, the medicinal liquid can directly contact the gastrointestinal mucosa, quickly passing through the stomach into the intestines, thus being absorbed more effectively without being diluted by food in the stomach, which could affect the efficacy.6. Taking Medicine After MealsGenerally, medicine should be taken 30-60 minutes after meals. For diseases located in the upper part of the body (such as heart, lung, and chest issues, or above the stomach), it is advisable to take the medicine after meals to allow the medicinal properties to ascend. Stomach tonics and medicines that irritate the gastrointestinal tract (such as Guo Lou Ren and others) should be taken after meals to reduce damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa; for patients with poor spleen and stomach function, most medicines are not suitable for taking on an empty stomach, and it is better to take them in the morning or afternoon, especially more than one hour after meals or in a semi-empty state. Additionally, highly toxic medicines should also be taken after meals to avoid rapid absorption and adverse reactions.7. Taking Medicine Between MealsThis means taking medicine between two meals to avoid the influence of food on the medicine; medicines for treating spleen and stomach diseases should be taken between meals. The timing of taking Chinese medicine is not only important but also the frequency and temperature of the medicine, which are crucial for achieving optimal therapeutic effects.8. Immediate AdministrationFor acute conditions, immediate treatment is necessary; the decoction should be taken immediately after preparation, known as immediate administration. For critically ill patients, Chinese medicine is generally administered immediately. For example, in cases of high fever due to infection, the medicine should be taken every 20 minutes from the onset of fever until sweating occurs; medicines for treating malaria should be taken about two hours before the onset of the attack; for critically ill patients, medicines for reviving yang and rescuing from peril should also be taken frequently and irregularly until the condition stabilizes. If one adheres strictly to taking the medicine two to three times a day, it may lead to a situation where the severity of the illness is not adequately addressed.The goal is to concentrate the medicinal power without harming the righteous qi, allowing the medicine to take effect quickly.Currently, for general febrile diseases, infectious diseases, and pediatric emergencies, the immediate administration method is advisable.9. Frequent AdministrationFrequent administration refers to taking the medicine in small doses multiple times or holding it in the throat. For throat diseases and vomiting patients, the frequent administration method is recommended, allowing the medicine to fully contact the affected area for quicker results. For high fever patients, frequent doses throughout the day can help quickly reduce body temperature and minimize damage to the brain; medicines for treating asthma, such as Ding Chuan Decoction and Su Zi Jiang Qi Decoction, can also be taken at any time.Additionally, for regulating menstruation, if the focus is on invigorating blood circulation, relieving liver qi stagnation, and alleviating pain, it is best to take the medicine three to five days before menstruation until the first two days of menstruation; this is the method of “guiding according to the situation”. After menstruation, tonics for nourishing yin and blood should be taken to quickly replenish the empty blood sea; warming and tonifying kidney yang and dispelling cold medicines should be taken before menstruation.2. DosageChinese medicine decoctions are generally prepared by decocting the herbs 1-2 times and combining the liquid, which should be taken in 2-3 doses, with each dose being 100-200 ml, to be consumed within a day or as directed by a physician.If the condition is severe, two or three doses can be taken in a day; for chronic diseases with a long course, it is not necessary to finish one dose in a day; it can be taken over three days with two doses, or even one dose every two days; for patients with vomiting or those who are weak, the medicine can be concentrated, starting with small amounts and gradually increasing, with later doses being increased; for children taking decoctions, the decoction should be concentrated to reduce the amount taken, with smaller, more frequent doses being preferable to avoid choking.When using potent or toxic medicines, start with a small dose and gradually increase it, stopping once the desired effect is achieved, and avoid overdose to prevent toxic reactions or harm to the body’s righteous qi.If sweating, diarrhea, or reduction of heat occurs after taking the medicine, indicating that the medicine has acted on the disease, the medicine should be stopped at that point to avoid excessive sweating, diarrhea, or heat reduction, which could harm the body’s righteous qi. This reflects the principle of “large accumulation and large gathering can be offended; reduce it by more than half and stop; excess leads to death.”3. Temperature of AdministrationGenerally, decoctions are taken warm, especially for those medicines that irritate the gastrointestinal tract, such as Guo Lou Ren and Ru Xiang, as warm administration can harmonize the stomach and benefit the spleen, reducing irritation to achieve therapeutic goals, making it easier for patients to accept.However, there are some special situations, such as:1. Medicines for dispersing wind-coldDispersing wind-cold medicines generally have a sweating effect, so they need to be taken hot. In some cases, after taking the hot medicine, patients may be advised to drink hot porridge and immediately lie down under thick blankets to promote sweating and expel evil qi. Therefore, medicines for dispersing wind-cold are often taken hot.2. Clearing heat and promoting diuresis, clearing heat and detoxifying, and antiemetic medicinesThese medicines are generally taken slightly cool, and patients should be advised to avoid spicy foods and lamb or beef to prevent exacerbating heat evil. This reflects the TCM principle of “use cold to avoid cold” and “use heat to avoid heat,” embodying the correct treatment of “cold treats heat” and “heat treats cold.”3. Application of the “following treatment” methodThe “following treatment” method refers to administering medicine according to the patient’s apparent condition. Generally, the treatment method is opposite to the disease manifestation; if the condition presents as heat syndrome, the decoction can be slightly cooler; if it presents as cold syndrome, the decoction should be slightly warmer.However, in some severe cases, a patient may have a true cold syndrome but exhibit false heat symptoms, such as restlessness and facial flushing. In this case, the treatment principle is also to “reverse it” and use warming medicines. However, if the decoction is too hot, it may cause vomiting; this phenomenon is called “geju” in TCM. In this case, it is advisable to cool the medicine slightly to avoid “geju.”This is an experience from ancient practitioners, where the “following treatment” method is applied to follow the apparent condition; for true cold treated with hot medicine, the decoction temperature can be slightly cooler; conversely, for true heat treated with cold medicine, the decoction temperature can be slightly warmer.In summary, using Chinese medicine to treat diseases is a systematic project. It is not only essential for the physician’s differentiation and prescription to be correct, but also for the quality of the medicinal materials to be guaranteed, the decoction method to meet requirements, and the scientific method of administration to be a crucial part of the process.Copyright Notice: The article is sourced from the internet. We share articles and images from the internet, and the copyright belongs to the original author and source. The various prescriptions and formulas mentioned are for reference and learning purposes only and should not be used as a basis for medical diagnosis. Please do not use them blindly, and this platform does not bear any responsibility for any consequences arising from this!