🌿 Folk Prescriptions

With rising living standards, winter tonification has become widespread. In today’s era where “spending money on health” and “giving health gifts” are trendy, many seniors receive winter tonics from younger generations during New Year and Spring Festival. Since they cannot consume them all quickly, proper storage becomes necessary. These tonics vary widely in type but can be broadly categorized into herbal medicines and prepared Chinese medicines. This article discusses how to store them properly to prevent spoilage and loss of efficacy.
1. Storage of Herbal Tonics: During storage, herbs often suffer from insect infestation, mold, oil leakage, and decay—mainly due to moisture, prolonged sunlight exposure, or contamination. Therefore, herbs must first be dried thoroughly, then stored in ceramic or glass containers, sealed tightly, and kept in cool, dry places. Ideally, place dry lime underneath the herbs. Animal-derived herbs require even stricter handling.
① Ginseng-type Herbs: Such as ginseng, red ginseng, white ginseng, American ginseng, codonopsis, and tai zi shen. Red ginseng, white ginseng, and American ginseng should be stored in porcelain jars or silk boxes, sealed, and placed in lime boxes. White ginseng and American ginseng can be sun-dried, cooled, and stored afterward. Red ginseng should be covered with paper during sun-drying to prevent discoloration.
② Deer Antler and Gecko: Wrap deer antler in fine cloth, store in camphor wood, leather, or lime boxes, sealed. Add a little Sichuan pepper to prevent insects. If powdered deer antler, use porcelain bottles. Geckos are prone to mold and insect damage and may lose tails. Store in containers with Sichuan pepper, place in lime boxes or dry, ventilated areas, and protect the tail—the primary medicinal part.
③ Cordyceps Sinensis: Easily susceptible to insect infestation, mold, and discoloration. Must be sealed and wrapped in paper, stored in wooden boxes. To prevent pests, place crushed peony bark in the box. Fresh specimens should be dried; if moldy, wipe with alcohol, then dry under sun or oven. Sealing and refrigeration are also viable options.
④ Bird’s Nest and Tremella: Both easily mold and discolor—must be protected from moisture. Bird’s nest should be sealed and stored in cool, dry places, or in lime jars. Tremella is best stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator.
2. Storage of Prepared Tonics: Prepared medicines come in various forms—pills, pastes, syrups, tablets, capsules, oral liquids in ampoules—each requiring slightly different storage methods.
① Pill Form: Tonifying pills are typically made with honey and powdered herbs. Due to high honey content and strong hygroscopicity, they are prone to mold and spoilage. Storage must focus on moisture protection. Use sealed bottles, keep in cool, ventilated, dry places. Also prevent high temperatures and microbial contamination.
② Paste Form (Tang Zhi): Also known as thick paste, made by boiling herbs, filtering out residue, concentrating, then adding honey and cooked sugar to form a thick semi-liquid preparation. Its moistening nature means it easily absorbs moisture. High temperatures may cause thinning and layer separation; contamination leads to mold and fermentation. Store in porcelain or amber glass bottles, sealed, in cool places. When temperatures rise, refrigeration is recommended.
③ Syrup Form: A concentrated sucrose solution containing drugs or herb extracts. Usually includes preservatives and aromatic substances, which inhibit microbial growth to some extent. However, in high temperatures or prolonged contact with oxygen and carbon dioxide, syrups gradually decompose, becoming cloudy, sour, or spoiled. Must be stored in dry, sterilized containers, filled completely, sealed tightly, and kept in a constant cool environment below 25°C, away from light.
④ Tablets, Capsules, and Granules: All highly susceptible to moisture. Poor packaging exposes them to humidity, high temperature, and sunlight, leading to crumbling, disintegration, discoloration, mold, or clumping within a short time. Tablets and capsules should be stored in glass bottles, sealed, in cool, dry, dark places—moisture-proof. Plastic bag packaging is unsuitable for long-term storage; granules especially need care.
⑤ Tincture Form: Alcohol itself has antibacterial and preservative effects, aiding long-term storage. But must be sealed tightly—secure the cap tightly to prevent evaporation, which lowers alcohol concentration, potentially causing off-flavors or mold.
⑥ Ampoule Oral Liquids: High temperatures may promote microbial growth, causing cloudiness, sedimentation, fermentation, or even bottle explosion. Must be stored in cool, dark places, or refrigerated.
Finally, note that all tonics have expiration dates. Regardless of type, storage duration must not exceed the expiry date. Some herbs and preparations lack stated shelf lives, but should not be stored too long. When purchasing or consuming, avoid buying in bulk and use promptly. (Author: Associate Professor at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Deputy Dean of the First Clinical Medical College)