#decoctions

Tea Time: Medicinal Herbal Tea’s

Tea is a time-honored and widespread preparation method used by cultures around the world today – for at least the past 3,000 to 5,000 years, as well. This makes sense because teas utilize the most popular and available liquid substance in the world: water. Water at its boiling point {212 degrees F} will remove, or extract, most if not all of the valuable active chemicals from a herb,…

Hello everyone, it’s Davide. Today, I wanted to touch on a very simple, yet overlooked and integral part, of Apothecary: infusions and decoctions. Most of the time, they are used interchangeably, and at times the lines between their differences can blur, however, I’m going to teach you how to not only create both, but also give some combinations as to what herbs should, and could, be used for both infusions and decoctions. Alright, now let’s get started!

Firstly, we should cover the differences between an infusion and a decoction. Infusing is the steeping of dried, “fragile,” parts of herbs, such as the flower, bud, and leaves. Decocting is the boiling of the “heartier” parts of the herb, such as the stem, root, bark (depending upon the plant), and leaf. The crossover is the instance of leaves in both decoctions and infusions, however, whether you decoct leaves or infuse them just depends on whether or not you’re using fresh leaves or dried ones--that is, if the leaves are all that is being used in your recipe. For instance, fresh Echinacea leaves tend to be waxier than their dried counterparts, and therefore, it might take a longer time for the plant’s properties to be transferred to the water, so if using fresh Echinacea leaves, a recipe might call for you to decoct, and for dried Echinacea leaves, the recipe might call for you to infuse it instead. However, whether you decide to infuse or decoct your herbs is up to your personal preference on the potency of the herbs in your recipe. Execution of any recipe is key. I suggest experimenting with what you feel is best. For instance, for dried mint leaves, I prefer infusing them, however, for fresh mint leaves, I prefer decocting them. For dried peppermint leaves, I prefer to decoct them, as the stems tend to still be attached to the leaves. For the fresh peppermint leaves, I also decoct. Now, onto the instructions!

Recipe One: Herbal Infusion

Ingredients:

3 parts water

1 parts herb (by volume, not weight) 

Utensils:

Medium sized pot

Stove-top

Tea Strain (completely optional) 

Instructions:

Set your stove to low

Pour your water into the pot, and set upon the stove; wait until you reach a light simmer. 

If you have the tea strain, place the herbs into it, and drop into the pot of simmering water. Immediately turn the stove off, and let the herbs steep for 5 minutes. 

If you do not have a tea strain, turn the stove off first before putting the herbs into the pot. Let steep for 4 minutes. this change usually is very minimal and doesn’t affect the final product, however, as a self proclaimed perfectionist, this slight change tends to go a long way--at least for me 

Herbal Infusion Combinations:

Nettles + Calendula + Basil = Hair Care 

Lemon Balm + Lavender + Yerba Santa = Tension Tamer

Hibiscus + Echinacea + Sage = Antibacterial Rinse 

Recipe Two: Herbal Decoction

Ingredients:

3 Parts Water

1 Part Herbs

Utensils: 

Medium sized Pot

Stove Top

Cheesecloth/Fine Mesh Sieve

Container to hold Decoction in

Instructions:

Set stove to medium low heat

Place pot on the stove, and pour in water. Once the water reaches a simmer, pour in your herbs, and cover. 

Set heat to low, and wait until the water reaches a second simmer (approximately 4-5 minutes). Take the water off of heat, and let herbs steep for approximately three minutes. 

Once the herbs are done steeping, the water should have drastically changed in color and possibly even transparency, depending upon the herbs used. 

Using a cheesecloth or fine mesh sieve, strain decoction into your container, removing herbs and any particles left in your decoction. 

Enjoy! 

Herbal Decoction Combinations:

Saigon Cinnamon (Whole) + Ginger + Astragalus Root = Circulatory Aid

Marshmallow Root + Rosemary + Ginseng = Cell Repair

Citrus Peel & Pith + Wild Cherry Bark + Slippery Elm Root = Nasal Passage Aid and Expectorant

Thank you all so much for reading, and I hope this template formula helps you in all your apothecary endeavors! Cheers! 

References: 

https://www.herbaffair.com/herbal-properties-guide/

https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/traditional-remedies-herbal-infusions

A Witch’s Guide to Medicinal Teas

A Witch's Guide to Medicinal Teas is a straightforward (and notably handsome) guide to preparing and drinking medicinal-strength herbal teas. Includes brief descriptions of herbal tea preparations (simples, hot infusions, decoctions, and cold infusions), as well as detailed illustration of herbs and short recipes throughout.

The medicines insystem of Ayurveda are produced in accordance with formulas prescribed inclassical pharmacopoeias. Rasa Tarangini and Bhaishajya Ratnavali are two ofsuch classical compilations. These medicines were produced in limitedquantities with best of the raw materials and best of the purifying processesby few pharmacies. The medicines were prepared under supervision of experiencedVaidyas (Physician and Pharmacist). The pharmacies operated with traditionalearthen furnaces and alloy utensils that were considered best fit for preparingthese medicines. These medicines were in form of bhasma (potentiated powder)and decoctions (herbal liquid with self generated alcohol). The efficacy andhealing potential of such medicines was unparalleled. The Ayurveda physiciansprescribed these medicines to the patient in set quantity to be taken for a specificperiod.

However, the recentsurge in demand has led to mass production of Ayurvedic formulations bypharmacies that do not follow any purification methods or traditional preparationpractices. These medicines are prepared in factories. The ingredients are mixedin set quantity and packed in form of tablets. This is the reason for presenceof heavy metals in these preparations. Moreover, the efficacy of thesemedicines is not even 10% of medicines prepared by traditional processes. In myexperience of usage and prescribing, I have found the medicines produced byDivya Pharmacy, Himalaya, Sri Sri Ayurveda as worth a trash. The medicinesprepared by Dabur, Zandu, Baidyanath and few other renowned pharmacies are alsomass produced but are better than medicines produced by new entrants. The pharmacies like Unjha, Gurukul Kangri, Dhootapapeshwar and ones inKerala are still producing medicines with traditional methods. Their medicineshave a greater efficacy. You may not find these medicines in every store due tolimited production but they are available with good stockist and retailers.

The last thing I wouldlike to mention is to follow the dosage prescribed by the physician. Do not take ayurvedicmedicines like OTC medicines available for headache and fever. Most ayurvedicmedicines are prescribed for duration of few weeks to maximum of three months.The physicians change the formulation by factors like climate, season and stateof tridosha (vata, pitta and kapha) in the body.

WHY A DECOCTION TINCTURE?

If you have dabbled in making your own medicinal herbal remedies, chances are you have likely entered the world of tinctures. Those little dropper bottles of herbs you see in the natural food store rely on alcohol to pull key constituents from plants, and with most plant properties, alcohol does an excellent job. Tinctures are easy to take, keep for years, and act quickly because they absorb…

Guide to make your own simple, effective herbal remedies

Making our own herbal medicines and body care products can save money and improve our health, and it’s much easier than you may think. If you already make herbal teas, then making infusions, decoctions, tinctures, salves and poultices can quickly become part of your repertoire, too. Don’t worry if they sound confusing; you’ll soon discover…

Springtime Herbs To Have On Hand

Traditionally, the days around the Vernal Equinox (mid to late March) and the month(s) after it was seen as a time of intense, rushing energy: days get longer and the sunlight more intense, the first signs of green growth emerge, and wildlife stirs again. Herbalists still consider this a time when the more inward, ‘congealing’ energies of Winter begin to transition into the more outward,…