甚麽叫做炮制。中药为甚麽要炮制?

炮制是药物在使用前，根据中医药理论，按照医疗，调剂，制剂的需要，对药材进行加工处理的工艺过程。它包括对药材进行的一般修治和部分药材的特殊处理。
炮制的目的：
A。 消除或减低药物的毒性，烈性和副作用。
B。 增强药物的治疗功效。
C。 改变药物的性能，使其适合制疗需要。
D。 便于煎服，制剂和收藏。
E。 除去杂质，非药用部位及不良味道，使药物清洁纯净，便于服用。

By processing of medicinal herbs, we refer to various processes of preparing crude medicinal materials according to the theories of TCM and requirements of therapy, prescription, preparation of form, and storage of Chinese medicinal herbs; it includes common or special treatment of crude or part of crude medicinal materials. since most Chinese medicinal herbs come from the crude plants, of which some are mixed with impurity in the collection process, some may easily change their properties and are not to be storage for a long time, some are violently toxic and are not to be taken directly and may need to be treated in special way so as totally with the need of treatment. Therefore, it is necessary for them to be processed so as to produce satisfactory medicinal effect and ensure safety in clinical practice before their use and preparation.The purposes of processing Chinese medicinal herds as follows:1. Removing or reducing the toxic, drastic properties and side effects of some Chinese medicinal Herbs.2. Promoting therapeutic effects.3. Modifying the natures and actions of Chinese medicinal herbs so as to make them suitable for Therapeutic requirement.4. Facilitating decocting and taking medicine, making preparation and storing medicine.5. Taking away the impurity, non-pharmaceutical parts and unpleasant tastes, thus making the Medicinal herbs clean and pure, and convenient for patients to take.