Herbal Preparations with Water

1. Hot water Infusion

A hot water infusion is a herbal tea that is made by pouring boiling water over fresh or dried herbs. It can be used for delicate plant parts such as leaves, flowers and berries.

Instructions

Place 1-3 tsp of herb in a mug

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the herb

Steep for 15 minutes

 Advantages

Inexpensive

Easy to prepare

Extracts water soluble compounds

Disadvantages

Not suitable for barks and roots

2. Cold water Infusion

A cold water infusion is when cold water is used over a whole root or powdered root. 

Instructions

Add cold water to the root

Let it stand for 10 minutes if you are using the powdered root or overnight if you are using the whole root

Advantages

Ideal for extracting mucilage from herbs such as marshmallow and slippery elm

Inexpensive

Disadvantages

Cold water is a poor solvent for leaves, flowers and berries

3. Decoction

A decoction is a herbal tea that is made by boiling the herb in water. A decoction is used for woodier parts of the plant such as barks, roots, stems and seeds.

Instructions

Use 1-3 tsp of herb to make 1 cup of decoction.

Bring herbs to a boil in a large pot, then reduce heat and allow them to simmer for several hours.

Boiling on high: 45-60 minutes

Boiling on low: 3-4 hours

Pressure cooker: 15-30 minutes

Slow cooker: cook overnight

Advantages

Inexpensive

Disadvantages

Requires a long time to prepare