This Issue’s Pharmacist
Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Pharmacy Department)
Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacist – Liang Qian
In the previous issue, we detailed the types of medicinal pills, including their advantages, disadvantages, and suitable populations. Today, we will introduce the last type of TCM dosage form – medicinal pastes.
Medicinal pastes are a type of TCM dosage form that most people have seen or used in their daily lives, and there are various kinds of pastes. Now, let’s clarify how to use medicinal pastes!
Medicinal pastes are made by decocting herbs with water or vegetable oil to remove residues, resulting in a semi-solid dosage form.
There are two types of medicinal pastes: internal use and external use.
Internal medicinal pastes are divided into three types: flow infusion paste, infusion paste, and decoction paste. Among these, flow infusion paste and infusion paste are mostly used for preparing other formulations. The decoction paste, also known as gāo zī (膏滋), is made by repeatedly boiling the herbs with water, removing the residues, and then concentrating it by adding honey or sugar. Most of the pastes prescribed in hospitals belong to this category of decoction paste.
External medicinal pastes are divided into ointments (soft pastes) and plasters (hard pastes). Soft pastes include creams and gels, while hard pastes include dog skin plasters, etc.
PART.1
Advantages of Medicinal Pastes
Small volume, high content, sweet taste, easy to take.
PART.2
Disadvantages of Medicinal Pastes
Limited selection of materials; heat-sensitive and volatile drugs are difficult to make into pastes.
In the selection of TCM dosage forms, medicinal pastes are suitable for the following conditions:
1. Individuals with insufficient Qi and blood, organ deficiency, and weak constitution;
2. Weakness due to surgical recovery, postpartum, or during the recovery phase of severe or chronic debilitating diseases.
However, it is important to note that consuming too many medicinal pastes can easily lead to excessive internal heat, so it is necessary to seek medical advice for supplementation.
END