Powder, Common Forms of TCM Prescriptions  
The drugs are ground into fine powder and well mixed for oral use and external use. Generally the powder for oral administration is usually ground into fine powder to be taken orally with warm boiled water or directly if in small dosage, such as Qili San, Xingjun San, and so on. Some drugs may be ground into coarse powder to be boiled with water and then the residue is removed to get the liquid for oral use. So they got the name of "boiled powder", e.g. Yinqiao San, Baidu San, etc.

The powder for external use is generally applied to or sprinkled on a sore or afected part of the body. Jinhuang San and Shengji San are such examples. But some are for eye droppings or throat insufflation, e. g. Babao Yanyao, Bingpeng San, etc. Powder is prepared easily and absorbed quickly, stable in property, insusceptible of going bad, and convenient to use and carry with less drugs used.