How to make . . . Infusions, Teas and Tinctures ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Decoctions Here's what you'll need to make your own herbal decoctions. 1) Fresh or dried herbs 2) A cutting board and knife(if using fresh herbs) or a coffee grinder 3) A glass or stainless steel pot large enough to hold the herb and liquid 4) Pint or quart glass jars 5) A fine-mesh plastic strainer 6) A wooden spoon 7) A coffee filter 1) Prepare the herbs. To break down the cellular structure and make it easier to extract their maximum medicinal value, herbs for a decoction need to be crushed, chopped, or well bruised. If you plan to make herbal remedies regularly, consider getting a sturdy coffee bean grinder to chop hard, woody herbs easily. 2) Simmer gently. Place the herbs in a pot and add water. Bring to a full, rolling boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting and let the decoction simmer gently for 10 to 20 minutes. Keep the pot covered so that the herb's essential oils don't leach out in the escaping steam. 3) Strain the decoction. When the decoction has finished simmering, strain it through a fine-mesh plastic strainer into a glass jar or a mug. Press on the herbs in the strainer with the back of a wooden spoon in order to extract as much liquid as possible. If you've used a fuzzy herb like rose hips, line the strainer with a coffee filter to eliminate any irritating particles. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Infusions and Teas To make a true herbal infusion, you'll need the following materials. 1) Fresh or dried herbs 2) Measuring spoons 3) A glass, ceramic or plastic infuser, cloth tea bag, or metal tea ball 4) A teapot 5) A measuring cup 6) A kettle or pot. 1) Start with fresh or dried herbs. Measure the herbs and put them in an infuser, tea bag, or tea ball, then place it in a teapot. Or put loose herbs into the pot and strain them out when you pour the tea. Use 2 tablespoons of dried herbs or about a handful of fresh herbs to a pint of water. 2) Boil, then brew. Place water fresh from the tap bottle in a kettle or pot and bring it to a boil. When the water boils, remove it from the heat until the bubbles subside, then pour it over the herbs in the teapot, cover, and steep for 10 to 20 minutes. (you can also use a large travel mug with a cover to brew just one cup. The lid prevents the herb's essential oils from leaching out in the steam.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tinctures Here's what you need to make a tincture. 1) Fresh or dried herbs 2) A cutting board and knife or a coffee grinder 3) A clean glass jar large enough to hold the desired amount of tincture 4) Menstruum (solvent) of your choice 5) Labels 6) A wire-mesh strainer 7) Cheesecloth, muslin, or a coffee filter 8) A 2-cup glass measuring cup 9) A funnel 10) Dark glass bottles ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1) Chop the herbs finely. You can cut them by hand, or in a coffee grinder. Don't forget to clean fresh herbs first. 2) Combine. Place 1 part herb to 2 parts liquid in the jar, with 1 to 3 inches of liquid above the herbs. Close it tightly and label with the name of the herb, the menstruum, and the date. Place the jar in a warm, dark place and steep for at least four weeks--the longer the better. Shake the jar daily and add more liquid if necessary. { If anyone can tell me what they are referring to as a solvent I sure would like to know ! For the life of me I cannot figure what they are referring to . . . ! } 3) Strain the tincture. Pour the liquid through a wire-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth, muslin, or a coffee filter into a glass measuring cup. 4) Fill the bottles. Using a funnel, carefully pour the tincture into clean, dark bottles (such as amber or cobalt blue). Label them with the type of tincture and the date. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . |
