What are Concentrated Pills?
Concentrated pills refer to pills made from decocted or partially decocted herbal materials that have been extracted and concentrated, combined with suitable excipients or remaining herbal powder, and formed into pills using water, honey, or a mixture of honey and water as a binder. They are also known as medicinal paste pills. Depending on the type of binder used, they can be classified into concentrated water pills, concentrated honey pills, and concentrated water-honey pills.
Characteristics of Concentrated Pills
Due to the extraction and concentration of the medicinal ingredients (or part of them), concentrated pills have the characteristic of requiring a smaller dosage while providing a higher efficacy compared to ordinary pills.
Taking Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) as an example, compared to other pill forms, concentrated pills save on the amount of medicinal materials used, which can reduce the financial burden on patients, and the daily dosage is smaller, further alleviating the pressure of medication for patients.
| Liu Wei Di Huang Wan | ||
| Type |
Water Pills, Water-Honey Pills, Small Honey Pills, Large Honey Pills |
Concentrated Pills |
| Formula |
Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia Root) 160g Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berries) 80g Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Root) 60g Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) 80g Fu Ling (Poria) 60g Ze Xie (Alisma) 60g (Total: 500g) |
Shu Di Huang 120g Gou Qi Zi 60g Mu Dan Pi 45g Shan Yao 60g Fu Ling 45g Ze Xie 45g (Total: 375g) |
|
Single Dose Dosage |
Water Pills 5g Water-Honey Pills 6g Small Honey Pills 9g Large Honey Pills 9g |
1.44g |
| Daily Dosage Frequency | 2 times a day | 3 times a day |
Note: Information sourced from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Manufacturing Process of Concentrated Pills
Prescription Review → Formula Preparation → Powdering, Concentrated Decoction → Mixing Powder → Pill Making → Polishing → Drying → Packaging. (Click on “Read the Original” at the bottom of the article for a detailed explanation of the pill-making process.)
During the powdering and concentrated decoction stages, pharmacists will perform different powdering or decoction operations based on the properties of the medicinal materials.
Medicinal Materials Suitable for Powdering
Precious and Fine: Ren Shen (Ginseng), San Qi (Notoginseng), Chuan Bei (Fritillaria), Xi Hong Hua (Safflower), Chong Cao (Cordyceps), E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), etc.
Starch-based: Fu Ling (Poria), Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica), Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillaria Thunbergii), etc.
Containing Volatile Oils: Bo He (Mint), E Zhu (Curcuma), Rou Gui (Cinnamon), etc.
Aromatic: Cao Guo (Tsaoko Fruit), Dou Kou (Cardamom), Sha Ren (Amomum), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), etc.
Medicinal Materials Suitable for Concentrated Decoction
Oily: Bai Zi Ren (Platycladus Seed), Yu Li Ren (Bush Cherry Seed), Xing Ren (Apricot Kernel), Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Jie Zi (Mustard Seed), Lai Fu Zi (Radish Seed), etc.
Sugary: Di Huang (Rehmannia), Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berries), Huang Jing (Polygonatum), etc.
Mineral Shells: Zi Shi Ying (Amethyst), Zhong Ru Shi (Stalactite), Ci Shi (Magnetite), Shi Jue Ming (Abalone Shell), Wa Leng Zi (Cuttlefish Bone), Bie Jia (Soft-shelled Turtle Shell), Gui Jia (Tortoise Shell), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), Long Gu (Dragon Bone), etc.
Toxic Medicinal Materials: Fu Zi (Aconite), Chuan Cao Wu (Corydalis), Shang Lu (Phytolacca), etc.
Fibrous: Ji Xue Teng (Spatholobus), Ge Gen (Pueraria), Ling Zhi (Reishi), Du Zhong (Eucommia), etc.
The concentrated pill service from Gan Cao (Licorice) supports concentrated water pills and concentrated water-honey pills. So what are the main differences between them?
Differences Between Concentrated Water Pills & Concentrated Water-Honey Pills
With the same prescription, the differences between concentrated water pills and concentrated water-honey pills mainly lie in the following two aspects:
Different Binders
Composition of Concentrated Water Pills: Herbal Powder + Concentrated Decoction (+ Water)
Composition of Concentrated Water-Honey Pills: Herbal Powder + Concentrated Decoction + Honey (+ Water)
Different Auxiliary Effects
Due to the presence of honey in the binder, concentrated water-honey pills also possess the effects of honey, such as nourishing and moistening, relieving pain, and detoxifying. They can be used for symptoms like abdominal pain due to deficiency, dry cough due to lung dryness, and constipation due to dryness in the intestines.
How to Prescribe Concentrated Pills?01Select Concentrated Pills – Pharmacy
02Add Medicinal Materials
If you want to import classic formulas like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, you can click: Import Formula – Formula Collection, and enter “Liu Wei Di Huang Wan”.
After importing the formula, you can freely add or reduce medicinal materials and conveniently adjust the quantities.
03
Select Pill Type (prescribe concentrated water pills or concentrated water-honey pills)
Set Medication Information (such as daily dosage frequency, single dose, total duration of medication, etc.)
(Tips: The platform will automatically calculate the pill quantity based on the total amount of medicinal materials and the medication information set by the doctor, so the doctor does not need to worry about it.)
Pill Collaboration Pharmacy
Pharmacy Services:
1Pill Services: Supports Concentrated Pills, Water Pills, Water-Honey Pills, Large Honey Pills2Production Cycle: 5-7 working days3Delivery Range: Besides domestic regions, concentrated pills also support international delivery
Pharmacy Services:
1Pill Services: Supports Concentrated Pills, Water Pills2Production Cycle: 5-7 working days3Delivery Range: Besides domestic regions, concentrated pills also support international delivery 
Pharmacy Services:
1Pill Services: Supports Concentrated Pills, Water Pills, Water-Honey Pills2Production Cycle: 5-7 working days
Pharmacy Services:
1Pill Services: Water Pills, Water-Honey Pills, Large Honey Pills2Production Cycle: 5-7 working days
