Combined Water & Fire Processes PDF

D. Combined Water & Fire Processes lhesc processes are anade by the intervention 01 heat and certain liquids. They are represented by the iöllowing methods: Scalding (Dan Fa) Steaming (Zheng Fa) The materials are placed in a receptacle and are cooked in steam or pressure cooked. The objectives of...

D. Combined Water & Fire Processes lhesc processes are anade by the intervention 01 heat and certain liquids. They are represented by the iöllowing methods: Scalding (Dan Fa) Steaming (Zheng Fa) The materials are placed in a receptacle and are cooked in steam or pressure cooked. The objectives of this method are to: l) modify a nature or action, such as with processed Radix Polygoni Multiflori (Zhi He Shou Wu). (For this, one frequently adds to the water an adjuvant for reinforcing the transformation of the ingredient, such as rice wine in the case of Radix Rehmanniae (Di Huang) or a decoction of Semen Glycinis Hispidae (Hei Dou) in the case of He Shou Wu.); 2) lessen a drastic action or side effect, such as with Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei (Da Huang) or Rhi- zoma Polygonati (Huang Jing); and 3) facilitate preservation, cutting, and storage, such as with Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis (Huang Qin) and Ootheca Mantidis (Sang Piao Xiao). Preparing or boiling (Zhu Fa) The medicinal substances are boiled in water or in an herbal decoction. The objectives of this method are to: l) Reinforce an action. For instance, Rhi- zoma Typhonii (Bai Fu Zi) is boiledin an Alumen (Bai Fan) decoction, Rhizoma CurcumaeZedoariae (E Zhu) is boiled in vinegar water, and Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae (Yuan Zhi) is boiled in a decoction of licorice; and 2) lessen toxicity. For instance, Radix Aconiti Carmichaeli(Chuan Wu Tou) and Radix Aconiti Kusnezofii (Cao Wu Tou) are boiled in water, Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae 16 (Ban Ma) is boiled in water and ginger juice while Flos Daphnis Genkwae (Yuan /lua) is boiled in vinegar water. "I'heremedies are plunged into boiling Water. T'h• has the effect of stopping the boiling for a mo. ment. The plants are then removed when the wa comes to a new boil. The objectives of this me. thod are to: l) eliminate the non-medicinalparts such as with Semen Pruni Armeniacae (Xing Ren) and Semen Pruni Persicae (Tao Ren); and2) facil. itate drying and preservation, such as with Semen Dolichoris Lablab (Bai Bian Dou) andTuberAs. paragi Cochinensis (Tian Men Dong). Dip-calcining (Cui Fa) The original materials are heated till red hot and are then dipped while hot into a liquid (clearwater or vinegar). The operation is repeated several times. This procedure is used for minerals,shells, carapaces, and scales. The objective of this method is to render the material friable in orderto facilitate pulverization. This then permits better assimilation of the active principles, such aswith Haematitum (Dai Zhe Shi), Magnetitum (CiShi), Plastrum Testudinis (Gui Ban), Squama Manitis Pentadactylis (Chuan Shan Jia), and Pyritum(Zi Ran Tong). Distilling (Zheng Lu) Certain aromatic plants are distilled slowly in steam to capture their essential oils, such as Flos Caryophylli (Ding Xiang), Herba Menthae (Bo He), Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (Jin YinHua),and Herba Agastachi Seu Pogostemi (HuoXiang). Pao Zhi: An Introduction to the Use of Processed Chinese Medicinals