HOW TO COOK A
CHINESE HERBAL FORMULA
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The Kind of Container
The best container is glass, ceramic or porcelain soup pot. It is important that your pot has a lid. Materials
to avoid include cast iron and aluminum. Stainless steel is better than the other metals and it is
acceptable. Teflon coatings are not as good as ceramic coatings. Many prefer to cook the herbs in a
crock pot as this requires less attentiveness to the process and the herbs can cook overnight. Instructions
for cooking in a crock pot are in the third section below.
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Please check for any special instructions checked off at end of this document.
And, disregard any instructions that follow boxes that are not checked off.
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Cooking
Place the herbs into the pot they will be cooked in. Cover the herbs with enough water to a little more than
twice the depth of the herbs in the pot without water. If you have the time, many people will soak the herbs
for 15-30 minutes before turning on the heat beneath the pot. This soaking is optional, if you don’t have
time to soak the herbs it is acceptable to brew them right away.
Bring water to a rolling boil. Then, turn down the fire to a low simmer. Stir the herbs before replacing the
lid.
Cook herbs for 45-50 minutes.
Strain the tea into a second container and return the herbs back into the pot.
For the second boiling add enough water to just cover the herbs. Again bring to a boil and this time they
may simmer more vigorously for 45-50 minutes.
Strain the liquid from the herbs and combine it with the tea from the first boiling.
How to brew Chinese Herbal Medicine in a Crock Pot
1. Empty the herbs into the crock pot and note where twice the level of the herbs is on the side.
2. Add sufficient cold water