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Decocting hard medicinal materials requiring a long boiling time before the other medicinals of the formula are added. medicinals commonly requiring pre-decoction include minerals and shells such as gypsum (Gypsum Fibrosum, 石膏 shí gāo), hematite (Haematitum, 代赭石 dài zhě shí), goose throat stone (Balanophyllia seu Stalactitum, 鹅管石 é guǎn shí), oyster shell (Ostreae Concha, 牡蛎 mǔ lì), and turtle shell (Trionycis Carapax, 鳖甲 biē jiǎ). These are crushed and brought to the boil over a fierce flame and are boiled for 10–15 minutes before adding the other ingredients. Raw arisaema (Arisaematis Rhizoma Crudum, 生南星 shēng nán xīng) and raw wild aconite (Aconiti Tsao-Wu-Tou Tuber Crudum, 生草乌 shēng cǎo wū) can be pre-decocted to reduce their toxicity. Ephedra (Ephedrae Herba, 麻黄 má huáng) can be pre-decocted to prevent it from causing heart vexation. This is done by boiling it for a few seconds, removing the scum and adding more water before the remaining ingredients are added.

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