What to Cook Herbs In – Traditional Chinese Medicine Methods

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbal remedies play a key role in maintaining the body's balance and preventing illness. A crucial part of effectively using these herbs is preparing them correctly, including choosing the right type of cookware.

1. Ceramic Pots
Traditionally, TCM recommends using ceramic pots to cook herbs because they don’t react with the herbs and preserve their full medicinal properties.

2. Clay Pots (Yixing)
Yixing clay pots are prized for their excellent heat retention, allowing for better extraction of the herbs' active compounds.

3. Stainless Steel
If ceramic or clay pots are not available, high-quality stainless steel is also a good option, though it’s important to ensure the steel is of top quality to avoid altering the herbs' effects.

4. Avoid Aluminum
Herbs should never be cooked in aluminum cookware as it can react with the herbs' active ingredients, reducing the efficacy of the herbal decoction.

5. Summary
Ceramic and clay pots are the best choices to fully benefit from the medicinal properties of herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

For more details on this topic, check out my full article on my blog: Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Health Remedies. You’ll find more insights into traditional cooking techniques and other aspects of TCM!
http://www.tcm-online.blogspot.com

Do you have questions or use different techniques for preparing herbs? Share your experiences in the comments!