Methods Of Preparation Flashcards
1
Q
What is Dry Frying (chǎo)?
What does it enhance?
A
- Cooked in a dry wok until browned
- Enhances ability to tonify Spleen and Stomach
- Makes herbs easier to store.
2
Q
What is STIR-FRYING (zhì)?
A
- Cooked in a wok with some sort of liquid medium
3
Q
What does honey do to an herb?
A
- Increases and herb’s tonifying and moistening actions
4
Q
What does ginger juice do to an herb?
A
- Reduces the tendency of cold herbs to upset the stomach
- Enhances an herb’s ability to warm the Stomach and stop vomiting;
- Reduces toxicity
5
Q
What does vinegar do to an herb?
A
Increases an herb’s
- astringent
- analgesic (pain relief)
- blood-invigorating actions
6
Q
What does wine do to an herb?
A
Increases an herb’s ability to:
- Unblock the channels
- Expel wind
- Alleviate pain
7
Q
What does salt do to an herb?
A
- Directs actions to the Kidney
- Nourishes yin
- Reduces heat signs
8
Q
What is CHARRING (tàn)?
What does it do?
A
- Herbs are charred until black
- Enhances ability to stop bleeding
9
Q
What is CALCINING (duàn)?
What does it do?
A
- A substance (usually a mineral or shell) is heated until it turns red.
- Makes substance brittle and easier to break into a powder.
- In some cases, in enhances the substance’s astringent actions
10
Q
What is ROASTING IN ASHES (wēi)?
What does it do?
A
- An herb is coated in paper, a paste, or mud and then roasted.
- The dried coating is cracked and discarded. -This process can draw out toxic oils from seeds and nuts
11
Q
What is DECOCTION (tāng)?
A
- Literally “soup.”
- Raw herbs are boiled 30-60 minutes, strained, and the resultant liquid is drunk.
- Strongest effect, Easily customizable
- Aluminum utensils should not be used. Clay or porcelain cooking pots are preferred, but many believe that stainless steel is ok.
12
Q
What are POWDERS (sǎn)?
What does the character (sǎn) also mean?
A
- Raw herbs are ground into a fine powder.
- Can be boiled for ten minutes and strained, or mixed with hot water and taken as a draft.
- More effective than pills, but less effective than decoction
- “散 sǎn” also means “to disperse” or “to scatter.”
- Traditionally, powders were used for excess conditions when the treatment principle was to drain or disperse.
- In modern usage, almost all raw herbal formulas are prepared as a decoction, even if they are named as a powder
13
Q
What are PILLS(wán)/TABLETS(piàn)?
A
- Raw herbs are ground into a fine powder, mixed with a medium (usually honey or tea), and formed into pills or tablets.
- Pills can vary in size from mustard seeds to longan fruit.
- Pills are mild and slow in action.
- Usually recommended for long term use.
- Less effective, Cannot be modified
14
Q
What is MEDICINAL WINE (jiǔ)?
A
- Raw herbs are steeped in strong alcohol for long periods of time (usually 3-6 months).
- The alcohol itself thought to be nourishing, invigorating, and channel-unblocking
- Small dosages can be taken internally on a regular basis (usually about 1 oz), or formulas can be made to apply externally
15
Q
What are SYRUPS (gāo)?
What are the most appropriate for?
A
- Raw herbs are cooked in water and strained into a concentrated decoction,
- Then mixed with sugar or honey.
- Most appropriate for chronic diseases, cough, and sore throat.
