Is it beneficial to soak traditional Chinese medicine overnight in advance?
I am a 35-year-old female. Recently, I have been prescribed Chinese herbal medicine to address spleen deficiency and excessive dampness. My physician prescribed some root and rhizome-type herbs. When I returned home, I noticed the herbs were quite hard, and I am concerned that the medicinal effects might not be fully released during decoction. I heard some people soak their herbs overnight. Is it advisable to soak Chinese herbal medicine overnight before decoction?
Doctor's answer (1)
Soaking traditional Chinese medicine overnight is not necessarily suitable for all types of herbs and should be determined according to specific circumstances. Flower and leaf herbs or lighter-textured herbs usually do not require prolonged soaking and can meet the requirements for decoction with short-term treatment. Some root and stem herbs, seed herbs, or harder-textured herbs, such as Astragalus (Huang Qi) and Poria (Fu Ling), may benefit from appropriate soaking, which can soften the herbs and help release their active ingredients more effectively during decoction. However, excessive soaking may lead to loss of water-soluble components and, in warmer conditions, bacterial growth, which could affect both the efficacy and safety of the medicine.
When preparing traditional Chinese medicine, it is important to follow the advice of a physician or pharmacist to ensure proper and scientific handling. If unsure whether a herb requires soaking, consult a professional for more accurate guidance. In general, most herbs only require soaking for 30 minutes to 1 hour, using either cold or warm water. Ensure a clean environment to prevent contamination. In hot weather, it is advisable to shorten the soaking time or refrigerate the herbs to prevent spoilage and maintain therapeutic effectiveness.
