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Page 48
| Making Your Own Medicines |
| Medicinal Herb Teas |
| There are two primary ways to prepare a tea. One is by steeping the herb(s) in hot water (called an infusion). The other is by boiling the herb(s) (called a decoction). Different herbs need different processes to maximize the extraction and preservation of their medicinal compounds. A general rule of thumb is that herbs that are rich in aromatic volatile oils (which have a perfume-like aroma) need to be infused; with decoctions the volatile compounds are boiled off. The best way to make an infusion is to boil the water, preferably in a glass or unchipped enamel pot or stainless steel pan. Place the herb(s) in the palm of your hand and rub with the thumb of your other hand. This bruises the cell membranes of the plant, thereby releasing the volatile components. Place the herb(s) (I teaspoon per cup of water) in a Mason jar. Pour the boiling water directly over the herbs. Cover the jar immediately in order to retain the volatile oils and let steep (infuse) for 10 minutes. Strain and drink. |
| Echinacea root is best prepared as a decoction using approximately one gram of root (either chopped or powdered) to one cup of water. A decoction is prepared by placing the herb in cold water |
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