According to “Yong Yao Fa Xiang”:“Pills are slow to act, they cannot be taken quickly; their purpose is to treat with a gentle and gradual approach.”As one of the oldest forms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pills have several advantages including prolonged effects, suitability for chronic diseases, reduced toxicity, and minimized volatility.
Pills · Advantages of the Formulation
1. Prolonged Effects
Traditional pills dissolve and release medicine slowly, resulting in prolonged effects.
2. Suitable for Chronic Diseases
They are suitable for the treatment of chronic diseases or for harmonizing Qi and blood after illness.
3. Reduced Toxicity
Due to the slow release of medicine, pills can delay the absorption of toxic or irritating substances, thereby reducing side effects.
4. Minimized Volatility
Aromatic or unpleasant-smelling medicines can be encapsulated within the pill or coated to reduce the impact of volatile odors on medication adherence, alleviating the stress of taking medicine.
5. Convenient to Take and Carry
Pills can be taken with warm water, making them easy to consume; they are also packaged in small units for easy transport.
Concentrated Pills
1) Definition
Concentrated pills refer to pills made from the clear extract or tincture of medicinal materials, combined with suitable excipients or powdered remaining herbs, using water or honey as a binding agent.
2) Characteristics
Due to the extraction and concentration of the medicinal materials, concentrated pills require a smaller dosage and dissolve quickly compared to other types of pills.
3) Applications of Concentrated Pills
Examples include Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), Xiao Yao Wan (Free and Easy Wanderer Pill), An Shen Bu Xin Wan (Calm the Spirit and Tonify the Heart Pill), Bao He Wan (Preserve Harmony Pill), Xiang Sha Yang Wei Wan (Aromatic Sand to Nourish the Stomach Pill), Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (Anemarrhena and Rehmannia Pill), and Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan (Agastache and Correct Qi Pill).
Water Honey Pills
1) Definition
Water honey pills are created based on the principles of water pills, where powdered medicinal materials are combined with honey and water as a binding agent.
2) Characteristics
Water honey pills have a low honey content, provide slight tonifying effects, and have a gentle action, suitable for patients needing nourishment while controlling blood sugar levels.
3) Applications of Water Honey Pills
Tonifying medicines are often made into water honey pills, such as Bai Zi Ren Yang Xin Wan (Biota Seed to Nourish the Heart Pill), Shi Quan Da Bu Wan (All-Inclusive Great Tonifying Pill), Gui Pi Wan (Restore the Spleen Pill), and Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Cabinet Kidney Qi Pill).
In which medication scenarios are pills more suitable??
1. Long-term or Frequent Business Travelers
Pills do not require decoction or infusion; they can be taken with warm water, making them very suitable for long-term or frequent business travelers.
2. Spleen and Stomach Deficiency, Kidney Deficiency, Qi Deficiency, Prone to Discomfort
Pills dissolve and release medicine slowly, which can delay the absorption of toxic or irritating substances, thus alleviating discomfort reactions in patients with poor physical constitution.
3. Intolerant to Bitter Decoctions
Some medicines are too bitter or have special odors that can easily cause vomiting and other adverse reactions; making them into pills can mask unpleasant odors and reduce the stress of taking medicine.
4. Patients with Chronic Diseases Needing Long-term Regulation, or Harmonizing Qi and Blood After Illness
Pills have a gentle and prolonged effect, making them most suitable for chronic or weakness-related diseases that require long-term treatment. For nodular or proliferative diseases, using pills can also be a better option.
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