2 Pills

2) Pills

Herbs are finely ground, either soaked in water, mixed with honey, or formulated into powder-like forms, then shaped into round pellets. While convenient to take, pills contain smaller doses of raw herbs and are absorbed more slowly, making them ideal for long-term treatments of chronic conditions. However, some potent herbs are also prepared in pill form to ensure gradual dissolution and gradual absorption, minimizing irritation to the gastrointestinal tract—such as Shu Zao Wan and Ding Dang Wan. Aromatic herbs like musk and borneol are not suitable for decocting and are often used in emergencies, requiring preparation into pills for quick access. A drawback of pills is that the active ingredients are not fully extracted, leaving the herbs in their original form; taking small doses may result in insufficient efficacy, while larger doses can interfere with digestion and hinder absorption, limiting their clinical application. Commonly used pill types include:

• ① Honey pills (made with honey): Used for chronic nourishment, such as Gui Pi Wan, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, and Shi Quan Da Bu Wan.
• ② Paste pills (made with flour paste): Used for strong, high-dose formulations, such as Ding Dang Wan and Da Huang He Chong Wan.
• ③ Water pills (made with water decoction): Used for stomach health and digestion, such as Xiang Sha Li Jun Wan and Yue Ju Bao He Wan.

Pill sizes vary; honey pills are the largest, weighing up to 6 grams, while paste pills and water pills are smaller, ranging from the size of a walnut to that of a green bean. Some pills contain highly toxic substances and are typically very small—like Liu Shen Wan, which can contain up to 15,000 pills per dose.