Yesterday my (Chinese) friend brought me to a R.TCM.P (Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner) to see if he can do anything for me and my ailments. After checking my pulse on both wrists (I'm sure it's not just the pulse, because he was moving his fingers on my wrist), he said something about the flame, as my friend translated for me. He said I have a lot of stress and anger. Hah. And I need to be more happy. Honestly, I could be happier in all aspects of life (but there are some things beyond my control), but I AM happy. Really. Apparently my body says otherwise. After 30 minutes of consultation, and another half hour to write up a "concoction"/prescription for me (in Chinese, no less), carefully measuring and packaging ingredients and picking an electric decoction pot, I came home with 5 wrapped concoctions as the the above. I have a bag of stuff (seaweeds, mushrooms, seashells, and lots of other things I don't recognize) for each day that costs $16.80 each. This is for 5 days and I have to see him again on Friday to see if there are any changes. Each bag of ingredients is boiled twice, and probably for 2 hours total in that "Automatic Herbal Medicine Decoction Thermo Pot". I've never heard of a clay electric heating pot until yesterday, but I think it would be cool for my regular teas. No need to transfer to another container. I mean, that is if the pot doesn't absorb all the flavors from my medicine. I'll show you what the thick final drink looks like one of these days, but I might not. It's not pretty, but it worked for my skin before. I have to put that steaming pot right under the exhaust fan of the stove and turn the fan on, or I will get a headache from the scent of it cooking. I have to say, this is a lot of work and it's no candy-flavored syrup, but I'm giving this thousands-of-years-old medicine a try. [I only have my iPhone with me to take photos because I'm staying with my friend at her apartment.]

36 ltr capacity, Peizo Thermo electric, 12/240 volt. Heats and cools. Cools to -18c below ambient,heats to 65c.