Blog

Small notes on a herbal prescription, such as pre-decoct or add later, can look like minor details. Skipping them changes what you were prescribed, so it pays to ask.

Small words with a purpose

Raw herbal prescriptions sometimes carry short instructions on individual packets: pre-decoct, add later, wrap separately, or dissolve at the end. To someone unfamiliar with herbal preparation, these can look like optional extras. Leaving out one of these steps because you feel you know the usual routine may mean the brew in your cup is not quite what was written for you.

What the terms usually mean

• Pre-decoct generally means simmering a particular ingredient on its own before the others are added.
• Add later usually means placing an ingredient into the pot near the end of cooking.
• Wrap separately often means putting an ingredient in a cloth bag before cooking.
• Dissolve may mean stirring something into the strained liquid rather than boiling it.

These are general descriptions only. The exact method for your formula should come from your practitioner.

Walking through your own formula

At the Lane Cove clinic, Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, can go through the instructions for your prescription step by step, especially the first time you prepare it. Ask about anything that seems ambiguous before you start cooking. Keep the instructions together with the labelled packets so nothing gets separated.

Resisting the shortcut

It can be tempting to use the method from a previous prescription because it feels quicker or more familiar. However, different formulas can call for different steps, so preparation advice from one does not automatically apply to another. When in doubt, check.

Organising your herbal plan

Treat the instruction sheet like part of the prescription: it lives with the packets, it gets updated when your other medicines change, and it is the first thing to check, followed by a call to the clinic, if you feel unwell while taking the formula.

A tip for busy kitchens

Sticking a printed copy of the steps inside a kitchen cupboard door keeps them visible while you cook. If anything on the packets still puzzles you, bring them to your next Lane Cove appointment and the labels can be checked together.