Is it okay to cook Chinese medicine for colds for too long?

　　treat cold Traditional Chinese medicine is called an exterior-relieving agent, which is divided into two categories: pungent and warm to relieve the exterior and pungent and cool to relieve the exterior.

　　Representative prescriptions for relieving the symptoms of Xin Wen include Mahuang Decoction, Guizhi Decoction, Xiao Qinglong Decoction, etc.； Representative prescriptions for relieving the symptoms of pungent and cool symptoms include Sangju Yin, Yinqiao Powder, Maxing Shigan Decoction, etc.

　　Most of the anti-inflammatory drugs are pungent powder and light-elevating drugs, and their active ingredients are mostly volatile substances that can evaporate with water vapor. Moreover, the longer the decoction time, the more the active ingredients will volatilize.

　　Therefore, less water should be added when decoction of traditional Chinese medicine for treating colds. It should be boiled quickly for a few times until the aroma is released. The decoction time should not be too long to avoid dissipation of the medicinal properties and weakening of the effect.