Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history in our country, and many chronic or complex illnesses are typically treated using TCM. After seeing a TCM practitioner, patients are often prescribed herbal decoctions to take. At this point, people may wonder exactly what these "decoctions" refer to—so let me walk you through it:

　　1. Traditional Chinese medicine comprises three key pillars: Chinese medicinal materials, processed herbal slices, and proprietary Chinese medicines. Among these, Chinese medicinal materials serve as the raw ingredient for herbal slices, while herbal slices are the foundation for preparing proprietary Chinese medicines. Herbal decoctions represent one form of traditional Chinese medicine, much like proprietary drugs, and are widely used in clinical settings for disease prevention, treatment, and health maintenance. However, unlike proprietary medicines, herbal slices offer remarkable flexibility through their ability to be tailored and adjusted based on individual patient needs—a feature that aligns perfectly with the "personalized medicine" approach essential for addressing each patient's unique condition. As a result, herbal slices remain the primary form of medication prescribed in TCM clinical practice today. Although proprietary Chinese medicines now generate higher sales than herbal slices, this trend is driven by several factors: first, proprietary medicines are typically priced significantly higher compared to herbal decoctions; second, the current forms of herbal slices don’t yet fully meet the convenience demands of modern lifestyles.

　　2. First, let’s define what traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is. Before answering this question, here’s a definition or explanation: TCM refers to all medicines used by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine to prevent and treat illnesses, guided by the principles of TCM theory. This includes both traditional formulations from the past—such as pills, powders, pastes, elixirs, decoctions, and herbal slices—and modern formulations like tablets, injections, and sprays developed more recently.

　　3. Throughout both the past and modern times, one traditional dosage form in "traditional Chinese medicine" has been "Chinese medicinal herbs prepared for decoction"—commonly referred to as "Chinese herbal decoctions" or simply "soup medicines" and "major remedies." More vividly put, these are the ingredients typically prescribed by seasoned "old-school TCM doctors" or "TCM practitioners," which patients then bring to a pharmacy or drugstore to be individually wrapped in paper—ready to be taken home and brewed into therapeutic herbal soups. Some also call them "Chinese herbal medicines."

　　4. Scientifically and systematically define "Chinese medicinal herbs in pieces": These refer to specially processed and prepared products derived from "crude Chinese medicinal materials," crafted under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine principles to meet the needs of syndrome differentiation, treatment, dispensing, and formulation. In clinical practice, both "Chinese medicinal herbs in pieces" and proprietary Chinese medicines are used to treat illnesses; however, the raw materials for proprietary Chinese medicines are also "Chinese medicinal herbs in pieces," not the original crude materials.

　　5. Some people confuse Chinese medicinal herbs with processed herbal slices. While certain varieties of herbal slices and raw medicinal materials may look very similar—or even identical in appearance—there’s actually a fundamental, intrinsic difference between them, much like the distinction between a cooked egg and a raw one: they may look alike, but their essence couldn’t be more different. Of course, there are also a few cases where the two are completely identical, such as wolfberry fruits used both as herbal slices and as raw materials. However, the vast majority of "Chinese herbal slices" have undergone processing, introducing significant qualitative differences. Therefore, herbal slices shouldn’t be referred to as "traditional Chinese herbs," though the term "traditional Chinese herbs" can still be used to explain what "Chinese herbal slices" actually are.