Acupuncture Healing Center · Patient Instructions
A step-by-step guide to preparing your herbal decoction at home. The key is timing — most herbs cook together, but some go in before the rest, and some are added after, near the end.
Open all your packets first. Check the boxes that match what you received, then follow only the sections that apply to you.
Pre-cook herbs (先煎) boil on their own first, before the rest of the formula joins them. Such herbs include Fu Zi, Long Gu, or Mu Li.
Don't shorten the pre-cook time. Some pre-cook herbs need the full time your practitioner specified to be safe and effective.
Use a stainless steel, glass, or ceramic pot — never aluminum.
Late-addition herbs (后下) are aromatic and lose their effect if boiled too long, so they go in right at the end.
Common examples: Bo He 薄荷 (Peppermint) · Ju Hua 菊花 (Chrysanthemum) · other aromatic herbs packaged separately.
Drink 1 cup (6–8 oz) twice daily, unless your practitioner directs otherwise.
| Herb type | What to do |
|---|---|
| Regular herbs | Boil 30–45 min |
| Fu Zi 附子 (Aconite) | Before: cook alone first for 60 minutes minimum |
| Packet marked "Add Last" | After: add during the last 5–10 min |
Tip: tap the boxes to check off steps as you go. Press Ctrl/Cmd + P to print a clean copy.