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You need to cook them and drink them as tea.

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Consultation in the clinic or over the phone first.

How To Prepare a Chinese Herb/Formula Decoction
Purpose
The purpose of steeping or decocting raw Chinese herbs in a formula is to draw out the therapeutic constituents of the herbs in to the water.
The Tea Pot
The recommended container is ceramic or glass, and it is important that it has a lid. You should avoid metal or cast iron teapots as Chinese herbs can react with the metals altering their therapeutic properties, or worse, have negative effects. If you must use a metal container, use stainless steel.
Water
Room temperature spring water or purified water are the best choices for cooking herbs.
Cooking the Herbs
The water should cover the herbs by about 2 inches and they should be soaked for at least an hour before turning the heat on. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then turn the heat down to a low simmer. Depending on the kinds of herbs, there is a great deal of variation in the cooking time. The average time is about 20 to 30 minutes.
Aromatic herbs are cooked for no longer than 5-10 minutes and should be thrown in to the decoction at the very end of cooking. If cooking the herbs more than once, be sure to add fresh aromatics to each batch.
Diaphoretic herbs are cooked no longer than 10-15 minutes
Tonifying herbs are cooked between 40-50 minutes
Bone, shell, or heavy mineral substances take longer to decoct and should be cooked 20-30 minutes longer than other herbs. Crush them (if possible), soak them separately, and then cook them for 20-30 minutes before adding the other herbs.
Do not lift the lid of the teapot when cooking as the volatile oils can evaporate and escape.
Once you’ve made the first cup of tea, the same herbs are usually cooked a second or even third time. The first cooking is said to effect the patient on more of the Qi or more superficial level as the temperature energetics of the herbs are released. On the second or even third steeping, more of the taste energetics are said to be released, which effects the patient on more of the blood or internal level. For this reason, it is good to mix the batches of tea if possible.
Straining and Drinking the Tea
Once cooked, strain the herbal concoction through cheesecloth, a metal strainer, or with the lid of the teapot.
The taste of Chinese herbal teas can be quite unpleasant to some people, but with time the patient will usually build an affinity for the formula they are drinking, especially if is well suited for them. If necessary, the tea can be watered down and consumed in a few cups versus just one. Honey can also be added to sweeten the formula, but do this only with the consent of your Chinese doctor, as it can change the properties of the formula.
When To Take Herbs
Herbal formulas are best taken 1 to 2 hours before eating to allow for maximun digestion and absorbtion of the herbs.
If there are substances in the formula that irritate the gastrointestinal tract, the formula can be taken 30 minutes to an hour after eating.
Tonifying formulas should be taken on an empty stomach if possible.
Sedating or spirit calming formulas should be taken 2 to 3 hours before bed time.

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