The utmost important points need your attention are: Validity date, Time to take soup (dosage), Temperature of the soup, and prepare the Tang Fang precisely.

1. Prepare the Tang Fang (prescription) precisely; each printed copy of Tang Fang is for 3 days, one dosage per person per day. That is to prepare 3 similar sets of ingredients according to each Tang Fang.

   • One set of ingredients (one dosage) is for one day/person used. You can prepare one set of ingredients daily or three sets all at once;

     • All ingredients and respective quantities prescribed on each Tang Fang is a complete set i.e. one set for one day/person;

   • There is no special requirement on ingredient unless otherwise specify, as long as it is the ingredient as named, reason being the substance of the ingredient always remain no matter its form (e.g. toast ground nut, fried ground nut, baked ground nut, salted ground nut, sugared ground nut, or even ashes of ground nut is still ground nut), still named as ground nut, its substance never changed, its field never change. The quantity of ingredient must be accurate; any miscount will loose the curing effect;

     • E.g. Chinese red dates, regardless of its place of origin, regardless of its size, ripe or unripe, dried or fresh, regardless of its shape, as long as it is Chinese red dates then it can be used;

     • E.g.  Chrysanthemum, if does not specify color, any color can be used; if does not specify place of origin, any place of origin can be used; that means you buy from Chinese herb’s shop or florist, or pluck from your garden all can be used;

     • Ingredient in nuciform like gingko and walnut, must remove the shell/crust to ease decocting;

   • Moderate (when no specific quantity is given) : means any quantity you deem fit. E.g. a single granule of sugar/salt or a small quantity are acceptable;

     • Slice (in square centimeter) : the area of a slice is measured in square centimeter, e.g. 1cm² = 1 slice (length x width = 1cm²);

       • Please use the measurement unit if stated, otherwise follow common practice, e.g. 1 slice of tea leaf means the area size of the slice can be any measurement. If the measurement unit is stated e.g. 1 slice of laver (square centimeter), you can cut 1 slice with the area size of 1cm² from a large piece of laver;

       • 1 slice means 1 slice, few slices not equal to 1 slice even the combination of the total area size is 1cm²;

     • Cube (in cubic centimeter) : the volume of a cube is measured in cubic centimeter, e.g. 1cm³ = 1 cube (length x width x height = 1cm³);

     • Teaspoon is referring to the spoon for stirring sugar while drinking tea. Soup spoon is referring to the spoon use for serving soup;

   • If a few family members using prescription simultaneously : Each family member must print a copy of the Tang Fang, prepare the ingredients separately and decocting the soup separately (dispense according to the Tang Fang one by one i.e. Cannot dispense base on 1 Tang Fang for more than 1 person);

     • The order of dispensing should start from elderly to youngest e.g. Grandfather/grandmother, father/mother, elder brother/sister, younger brother/sister (Strictly no writing is allowed on both sides of the Tang Fang);

     • Use 3 cups while dispensing ingredients for each Tang Fang (cup is good as small size ingredient like sesame will not stick on it), can use marker pen to write on the cup e.g. A1, A2, A3 (grandfather), B1,B2,B3 (grandmother), C1,C2,C3 (father), D1,D2,D3(mother), E1,E2,E3 (elder brother), F1,F2,F3 (elder sister-in-law), G1,G2,G3 (younger brother)......

     • A1,A2,A3 are for grandfather to use on day 1, day 2, and day 3; B1,B2,B3 are for grandmother to use on day 1, day 2, and day 3, and so forth......

     • Strictly not allow to multiply the quantity of ingredients nor combine ingredients from a few Tang Fang to decoct the soup or drink the same soup by more than one person;

2. Decoct 1 dosage per day, fill with water at least 3 inches above ingredients

   • Decocting utensil and method;

     • Use Traditional Chinese Herbs Decocting Pot (made in clay), feature of the pot is top (mouth) and bottom (base) diameter are smaller then the middle part of the pot, having a spout and cover;

       • Patient with serious illness is recommended to decoct the soup daily i.e. once a day; if possible use charcoal; can take the soup 3 times a day (must adhere to the given time schedule);

       • Those with limited time (busy) can pre-decoct the soup and store it in the refrigerator; must decoct the soup separately either use the same pot and decoct 3 times or use 3 different pots to decoct simultaneously ( Not allowed to use 1 pot to decoct more than 1 dosage i.e. 1 complete set of ingredients );

     • More than 1 person taking Tang Fang : use a few porcelain cups with cover (can use porcelain plate as cover), 3 cups  in a group (can use porcelain bowl if no cup available), decoct by putting into pressure cooker, microwave oven, or steamer to steam the soup (in this case, water just need to be above ingredients because water will not be evaporated in the steaming process);

     • When travel : can use portable cooker, hotplate, or electrical oven;

       • When decocting is not possible, can use boiling hot water to prepare the soup;

   • All ingredients stated on Tang Fang must put into the decocting pot simultaneously (in any sequencing order unless specify);

   • No need to soak ingredients, and no need to wash ingredients unless very dirty like sand or mud;

   • If ingredients including wine or alcohol, all alcohol will be evaporated in the decocting process, as such those abstain from alcohol still can take the soup without worry;

   • It is alright to reheat soup stored in the refrigerator, medication potency will not be affected;

3. Initially use strong fire to decoct then turn to use slow fire after boiling, decoct the soup till 1/3 of a rice bowl

   • Initially use strong fire to decoct, after boiling, turn to use slow fire to decoct (just bubbling) the soup just enough to fill 1/3 of a rice bowl. No need to re-decoct the soup;

   • Avoid to open the cover while decocting; If ingredients burned/scorched, must throw away the soup and ingredients because the medication effect has been changed;

4. Taking the soup twice a day, no need to eat dregs (ingredients left over after decocting)

   • Take the soup (medication) twice a day by splitting into two portions; Not recommended to eat dregs due to beans are not easily digestible;

   • Do not drink tea 30 minutes before and after taking the soup (may drink warm water), avoid cold food and cold drink 30 minutes after taking the soup;

5. Take the soup punctually, according to stated time schedule and temperature of the soup

   • Taking time: Choose any two from the three stated time schedule. Each schedule span over two hours, must take the soup within the schedule (two hours), not allow to take the soup at any other time !

     • E.g. if the stated time schedule : 18:00-20:00    23:00-01:00    4:00-6:00

       • 1^st taking :18:00-20:00 2^nd taking: 23:00-01:00, or

       • 1^st taking :23:00-01:00 2^nd taking: 04:00-06:00, or

       • 1^st taking :04:00-06:00 2^nd taking: 18:00-20:00

     • Time is referring to local time (where you are located), this is to harmonize with Qi and blood circulation of human body;

       • Strictly adhere to stated time schedule to take soup irregardless after meal or before meal, irregardless of gap in between taking soup (medication); night time can use alarm clock or vibration function of mobilephone;

       • Attached TakeTime Schedule for your reference;

   • Best timing : the first 3 minutes of each time schedule will bring the best medication effect, especially good for people suffer serious illness;

     • E.g. 23:00-01:00, the best time is 23:00-23:03, the medication effect is 30% higher than later time; Not allow to take the soup earlier e.g. 22:59 because this time is outside of the two hour span of 23:00-01:00;

     • The reason we provide a two hours span of each time schedule is for those who need to work or school able to take the soup at their convenient within this time; Although the best effect is within the first 3 minutes, the effectiveness in the remaining time can surprise you too;

   • Temperature of the soup : adhere to Tang Fang;

     • Cold or Mild : Best with cold, mild is fine too (can take the soup right after taking out from refrigerator );

     • Mild : room temperature (25⁰C);

     • Hot or Mild : Best with hot, mild is fine too (hot but at drinkable temperature, can use microwave oven or hot water to heat up the soup);

   • In the situation of not able to eat/drink, may use chopstick or cotton bud to drop a single drop of the soup on the tongue of the patient, this can apply to unconscious patient too;

   • When out of home or travel : can bring soup in a container, some container able to keep warm/cold, can keep the soup in refrigerator in hot weather; feeding bottle is good alternative since it is hygiene and can be reheated easily;

6. Medication Potency/Effectiveness Multiplier : following are multipliers of the soup medication potency/effectiveness, it is like turbocharger, it is the uniqueness of TCM, and the most valuable and distinguishing feature of Chinese culture :

   • When prepare the ingredients must be engross and meticulous, this will strengthen the medication effect/potency:

     • We hope that the preparation, decocting, and the entire process are completed by oneself or next of kin; Never prepare, decoct, or taking the soup with a playful mindset; Others are not allow to try or taste the soup;

   • Decocting by son/daughter/next of kin will boost and strengthen the medication potency/effectiveness another 50% !

     • Medication + love + filial piety, can have better and faster curing effect; there is an old saying, decoct by different people can make the difference in effectiveness;

     • Try not to pass the process to worker or maid, unless there is no other alternative; Also please remember to treat others well;

     • Loyal, filial, benevolence, righteousness, trust, etiquette, wisdom, and brave, among these behaviors loyal and filial are the most important; we’ll use this as the standard to select the distribution center and whom to decoct the soup, respect and enjoy one’s career is very important, filial piety is utmost important, without it nothing can be done and may not have good effect, TCM take this seriously and so do other industries, including breeding and agriculture ( flower will not blossom beautifully without kindhearted planter) ;

   • Perform good virtue : do not avoid from perform it because it is just a trivial virtue, do not perform it because it is just a trivial vice; God bless who think and act good;

   • Kindhearted patient will have better curing effect, this is an important part of Chinese culture; If there is something you do not want others to know about, the only way is not to do it in the first place; what you sow is what you reap; great joy comes from helping others;

7. Must burn the prescription (beware of fire) after using the prescription or after the prescription expiry date, not allow to retain the prescription;

8. Under emergency situation where no time to decoct soup, just leave the printed prescription under the pillow or close to body.