When a Chinese medicine practitioner prescribes Chinese medicine, they usually prescribe it for 4 to 7 days at a time. For patients with chronic illnesses, the medication can be taken for two weeks at a time. Many patients choose to make a decoction of all traditional Chinese medicine at one time in the hospital or pharmacy, and then make a decoction of the medicine. Place the decoction in the refrigerator. So, how long can Chinese herbal decoctions be stored in the refrigerator?
First of all, we need to understand the packaging form of traditional Chinese medicine decoction. At present, the most commonly used packaging for traditional Chinese medicine decoctions is vacuum packaging. Second, containers provided by patients can also be packaged.
In fact, hospitals and pharmacies report thatThe shelf life of liquid medications in airtight vacuum bags varies. There are studies in which different recipes are stored under different temperature conditions and measurements such as odor, turbidity, mold growth and acidity are recorded separately by observing the deterioration of the mixture. It was found that the higher the temperature, the faster the deterioration of the chemical solution. During seasons with higher temperatures, the ambient temperature is above 25°C. As a rule, the soup is kept for no more than 2 days. If refrigerated, it can usually be stored for up to 7 days without spoiling. Furthermore, even under the same conditions, different prescriptions will result in different degrees of deterioration. If the liquid medicine contains more ingredients such as starch, proteins and carbohydrates, it will deteriorate more quickly.
In order to ensure the safe use of medicines, the optimal storage temperature of traditional Chinese medicine soup in sealed vacuum packaging is 0-5℃, and the storage time is 7-14 days , but it is best not to exceed 7 days. On the one hand, after the decoction is cooked, it is often kept at room temperature for half a day to a day, and then taken home for refrigeration, which, on the other hand, will "accelerate" the deterioration of the decoction; the decoction contains whole scorpion, etc. Animal Chinese medicine or high sugar Chinese medicine like Rehmannia glutinosa and Astragalus will also affect shelf life. If you find a bulge in the medicine bag or the medicine has a peculiar smell, bubbles or other abnormalities, it means that the medicine has deteriorated and please do not take it.If accompanied by the medicine provided by yourself, it is generally not recommended to take Chinese medicine decoction at night. Even if placed in the refrigerator, it should not exceed 3 days to prevent the liquid from deteriorating and affecting health.
It is best to warm Chinese medicines for colds.
Chinese medicine decoctions are convenient for people, but some patients report that sometimes Chinese medicines taken out of the refrigerator are soaked in hot water. and the stomach Feeling cold, pain and discomfort, even gastrointestinal, diarrhea, why?
First of all, Chinese medicine can be divided into cold, hot and mild colds according to their properties. Cold and cold medications can irritate the spleen and stomach. Large quantities or long-term use may cause stomach cold, abdominal pain,sensitivity to cold, heat, diarrhea, etc.
Secondly, if the medicinal soup is not enough "Warming the mouth" will damage the spleen and stomach. If the temperature of the medicinal soup is lower than the body temperature of the human body, the medicinal soup entering the human body is an endothermic process, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort in the refrigerator, the temperature is generally 2 to 7 degrees Celsius. If the Chinese medicine just taken out of this environment is heated to. 40 to 45 degrees Celsius with hot water around 90 degrees Celsius, the quantity of water should not be too small. It is best to take a bag of Chinese medicine out of the refrigerator for half an hour. advance, then put it in a larger bag, add about 500 ml of hot water to the container if you need to reheat it immediately after setting out of the refrigerator.It's a good idea to replace the hot water again to ensure the soup is "hot". In addition, drinking uneven hot and cold medicinal soup can also cause gastrointestinal discomfort. you can pick up the medicine bag and shake it to heat it evenly.
Finally, the patient's physical factors should not be ignored for those with a weak spleen and stomach. There are higher requirements, so they have to “heat up”. medicinal soup thoroughly". Another method is to pour the medicinal soup into a stainless steel pot, heat it to 60 or 70 degrees Celsius and let it cool for a while until it is "hot to the mouth."
< p>Many people put Chinese medicines purchased in pharmacies directly into the refrigerator, thinking that they can avoid mold and pests and prolong the life of Chinese medicines. < p> MedicationsChinese patented products are also favored by patients with chronic diseases. diseases and are always available at home. However, if stored improperly, their quality can easily be affected, thereby reducing their effectiveness and even harming human health.Now I tell you what you should pay attention to when. store traditional Chinese medicines and exclusive Chinese medicines at home?
Do not put these 5 types of medicinal materials in the refrigerator
In fact, most Chinese medicinal materials are not suitable not suitable for storage in the refrigerator Because they will be mixed with other foods for a long time and are prone to bacterial cross-infection, which will destroy the effectiveness of the medicine and cause side effects when people eat them. Normally, it is recommended to store medicines dry. . A cool place. For the cInq valuable medicinal materials used daily, more attention should be paid to conservation.
Donkey skin gelatin
For unopened donkey skin gelatin, this can be. stored in aluminum foil. Prevents air from entering, avoids oxidation and moisture, and can be stored directly at room temperature or in the refrigerator
However, for unpackaged donkey skin gelatin that does not have not been consumed even once, it is stored in aluminum foil. It is best to store donkey skin gelatin in one place. Place it in a tightly sealed bag, then put it in a sealed glass jar or pot of quicklime. If possible, pour the desiccant into the water tank. can calm the mind, nourish the heart, strengthen the spleen and nourish the body. The elderly, weak and unhealthy white-collar workers can use it to be healthy. maybee stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator. If dried ginseng is not stored properly, it is prone to mold and growth. Wrap it in white paper and put it in jars, cans and tubes, then store it in a cool, dry place. place with the lid tightly closed.
The method of preserving American ginseng is different from that of ginseng. When storing American ginseng, it is best to choose a brown bottle, which can resist oxidation. It is easy to change the color of American ginseng if it comes in a lighter glass bottle.
The brown bottle cap should preferably have a rubber liner, and the sealing performance should be better to avoid moisture, mold, insects, etc. to a large extent. .
Cordyceps sinensis
Generally speaking, the conservation of Cordyceps sinensis mainly depends on the quantity. A small amount of cordyceps can be stored in an airtight jar with the bark.
If there are a lot of Cordyceps, please add desiccant and put it in a glass bottle to keep it dry.
Angelica
Southern people like to add medicinal materials, such as angelica, dangshen, etc., when making soup, which can nourish the blood, nourish qi and strengthen the spleen.
Dried Angelica sinensis is suitable for sealed storage in a cool and dry place, so that the medicinal properties of the medicinal materials will not disappear quickly, thereby extending the shelf life of the medicinal materials.
By the way, angelica contains a lot of oil, which can easily cause insects to mold, so try to buy as little as possible.
02
How to store proprietary Chinese medicineshome
Keep them sealed
All types of proprietary Chinese medicines should be kept sealed. Even for packaged Chinese patent medicines, different sealing measures need to be taken according to different dosage forms and packaging, such as tightening the bottle cap, sealing or tightening the box or bag.
If Chinese patent medicines are exposed to air, microorganisms (bacteria, mold, yeast, etc.) and insects can easily mix and multiply, causing various deterioration phenomena, including liquid or nutritional Chinese patent medicines, such as pills, syrups, ointments, etc. are more susceptible to contamination, which causes mold and moths.
In addition, oxygen in the air is subject to chemical reactions, such as oxidation with some chemical components of Chinese patent medicines,resulting in deterioration such as discoloration and oiling.
Oral liquid Chinese patent medicines should not be drunk directly from the bottle. On the one hand, it will contaminate the liquid remaining in the bottle; on the other hand, saliva sticking to the neck of the bottle can easily cause mold. The correct method is to pour the prescribed dose each time and immediately tighten the cap for storage.
Pay attention to the storage environment
Too high ambient temperature can easily cause capsules to soften and stick, volatilize tinctures and medicinal wine, etc. Too low a temperature can cause the capsules to become brittle and liquid preparations may settle. Excessive humidity can cause granules and powders to absorb moisture and clump; low humidity can cause the tape to lose its stickiness andsome medication ingredients may become efflorescent.
Generally, it should be stored in a clean, cool and dry place. Except for special provisions in this manual, the temperature range is 10℃~20℃ and the relative humidity is 35%~75%. It can be measured with a household thermometer.
Do not store on a drying bench, on a stove, near a sink, or in direct sunlight. In summer, check the quality of stored Chinese patent medicines and throw them away if found to be spoiled. Store separately
Internal medicines and external medicines should be stored separately. Most external drugs are irritating, corrosive, toxic, etc., and their internal use will cause serious consequences.
Most traditional Chinese medicines for external use contain volatile ingredients. If mixed, they can easily change the taste of the medicine qit contains, which may affect the effectiveness of the medicine. In order to quickly and easily find the required Chinese patent medicines, medicines should be classified and stored according to the disease to be treated.
It should also be noted that in order to avoid accidents caused by children's abuse of proprietary Chinese medicines, it is best to lock the place where the medicines are stored or place them outside out of reach of children.
Keep labels intact
Important information such as name, ingredients, effectiveness, indications, use and dosage, precautions, expiration date , storage requirements, etc. are printed on the labels of exclusive products. Chinese medicines, instructions and outer packaging provide guidance to patients on the safe and reasonable use of medicines. There should therefore be no damage orloss. Otherwise, I prefer to throw it away.
Difficult to store for a long time
Some Chinese patent medicines are difficult to detect from their appearance after deterioration, such as mold in powders and granules, and pills of water to fight moths. medicine. Therefore, do not take Chinese patent medicines that have expired or are eaten by insects, moldy and smelly.
Opened Chinese patent medicines should be taken promptly. Some medications that require moderate cleanliness, such as eye drops, should not be used if they are not used within the allotted time.
Since the storage conditions of Chinese patent medicines at home are limited, it is generally not appropriate to store large quantities of Chinese patent medicines for a long time.