Stainless steel pots conduct heat too quickly, requiring frequent stirring when decocting herbs. Otherwise, the herbs may stick to the pot walls and burn easily if not monitored closely. However, aside from this drawback, stainless steel pots remain a decent alternative.Using aluminum or iron pots for decoction poses significant problems. Aluminum and iron are reactive elements that readily interact with various chemical components in herbal medicines, reducing efficacy and potentially causing toxic side effects. For example:Aluminum and iron may also form insoluble complexes with flavonoids found in herbs like Scutellaria baicalensis, Pueraria lobata, and Psoralea corylifolia, or with anthraquinones in herbs like Rheum palmatum and Polygonum multiflorum. Some of these complexes, once absorbed by the body, accumulate in tissues such as the liver, kidneys, and brain, causing varying degrees of toxic side effects.Aluminum and iron may also undergo displacement reactions with heavy metal-containing herbs like cinnabar, generating toxic free mercury... Each herbal medicine contains dozens to hundreds of compounds, potentially triggering countless chemical reactions when boiled in aluminum or iron pots.
Clay pots, primarily composed of silicates, offer stable chemical properties, even heating, and slow heat transfer. This prevents rapid evaporation during decoction, making them the preferred choice for herbal preparation. Note that sudden temperature changes can cause cracking.Therefore, do not immediately rinse a clay pot with cold water after boiling herbs. Allow it to cool on a dry wooden surface or rack before cleaning off residue. Grease stains should not be soaked in detergent to prevent contamination seeping into pores. Instead, wipe with leftover tea leaves or soak in rice washing water, then heat and scrub with a brush.