It refers to the round solid preparation of drugs obtained by grinding drugs into fine powder or extracting medicinal materials and then mixing with excipient. Compared with decoction, pills have the advantages of slow absorption, lasting potency, small dosage, and are convenient to carry and take because of their small volumes. Therefore they are commonly adopted to treat chronic diseases or diseases with deficiency syndromes, e.g. Liuwei Dihuang Wan, Xiangsha Liujunzi Wan, etc. Sometimes they are also used for chronic treatment with drugs drasticin properties, e.g. Shizao Wan, Didang Wan, etc. They may also contain drugs aromatic in flavor, and unsuitable to be boiled in water, e.g. Angong Niuhuang Wan, Su-hexiang Wan, etc. The pills or boluses commonly used are listed as follows.
Extract, Ointment and Plaster:
They are medicinal preparations made by decocting drugs in water or vegetable oil and discarding the dregs, for oral or external application. The former includes liquid extract, extract and decocted extract, and the latter ointment and plaster. Among them, liquid extract and extract mostly serve as a mediator for other preparations, such as mixture, syrup, granule and tablet. Here is a brief explanation of decocted extract, ointment and plaster.
Medicated Liquor
It is an alcoholic solution obtained by soaking drugs in liquor or rice / millet wine, or stewing them with a separation between water and drugs, then discarding the residue. The liquor is taken orally or applied externally. With the characteristics of promoting blood circulation to remove obstruction in the meridians, being apt to volatilize and helpful in bringing the potency into full play, it is often used for dispelling wind and dredging the collaterals, for example, Fengshi Yaojiu, Shenrong Yaojiu, and Wujiapi Jiu, etc. If applied externally, it may dispel wind to promote blood circulation, and to relieve pain and edema.
Dan (a special form of pill)
It is divided into two types, one for oral administration and the other external application. The former does not have a fixed form, inclusive of pellet and powder, and gets the name because it consists of rare drugs or bears remarkable effect, e.g. Zhibao Dan, Huoluo Dan, etc.
The latter is also called Danyao, which refers to the crystal-like product of various shapes made by heating, under higher temperature, some medicinal minerals. It is often smashed into powder and sprinkled over the affected part in the treatment of sores and ulcer, carbuncle and gangrene. It can also be made into medicinal paper strip or thread for external application.
Medicated Tea
It refers to either the coarse granules processed by crushing the drugs, or the block preparation made by mixing the powder with appropriate adhesive, drunk as tea after infused with boiling water or boiled for juice. It is mostly applicable to cold, dyspepsia, and diarrhea. Recently, however, new products have come into being, some for building up the body and others for reducing weight, e.g. Wushi Cha, Ciwujia Cha, and Jianfei Cha,etc.
Medicinal Dew
It refers to the fragrant crystal-clear solution obtained by distilling fresh drugs containing volatile ingredients, to be used as drinks or for relieving summer heat, e.g. Jinyinhua Lu, Qinghao Lu, etc.
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