If I were to take a guess, I’d say that you reading this right now, make an infusion every day. Coffee is an infusion! Not only coffee but tea is also an infusion. Even though both can be either hot or cold infusions, they’re usually infused hot, then chilled afterward. A hot infusion creates a more potent herbal tea. The heat breaks down cell walls, extracting more of the plant tissue, making a stronger infusion. The process would require more time if you infuse coffee/tea strictly as a cold infusion.
According to: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infusion,
The definition of “infusion” is, “the steeping or soaking usually in water of a substance (as a plant drug) in order to extract its soluble constituents or principles.”
This method of obtaining the medicinal properties of herbs is done simply by adding the leaves (or beans, roots etc.) to water, thereby extracting the properties.
This is the same process used in pretty much any herb. Even root beer was originally inspired by an infusion of sarsaparilla root. More often than not, a typical, single infusion is made with more than one kind herb. For example, the “sleepy time sinus soother” tea found in most grocery stores is a blend of these ingredients:
Spearmint, licorice, peppermint, tulsi, stinging nettle, linden flower and leaf, fennel seed.
Other ingredients: chamomile, lemongrass, natural menthol flavor and tilia flowers.
These ingredients combined create a soothing effect on your sinuses while encouraging relaxation and sleep.
As stated in The Lost Book Of Herbal Remedies,
“Herbal teas can be made from individual herbs, but it is more common to use a mixture of herbs that work well to treat the condition you are seeking to heal.”
Decoctions
Decoctions are fundamentally a simmered herbal tea. Decoction is the best choice when it comes to harder botanicals, like roots, seeds, or herbs that cannot be easily infused by steeping in a teapot.
In my personal opinion, a decoction is best for taking herbs that have that vile dirt taste! This is because a decoction contains four times more medicine than a tea. I’m the type of person that would rather take a little bit of a potent liquid than sip on a cup of tea.
Important note: An adult in good health can consume up to one cup of a decoction, three times a day. Children’s dosages should be based upon their
weight. (The Lost Book Of Herbal Remedies page 37)
If the taste of the herb is unpleasant to an unbearable extent, or if you are working with shredded bark and dried roots a “double decoction” may do the trick in lowering the amount of liquid needing to be consumed. Again, I don’t know about everyone else, but I’d much rather take a little of a potent dose than a lot of a mild dose.
Helpful Tip: When working with bark or dried roots, soak them for several hours (12 is recommended) in cold water before boiling/simmering.
Double Decoctions
Double decoctions and decoctions are the same, with the exception of the final volume of liquid.
To simmer a decoction until you are left with ¼ of the original volume of liquid is essentially making a double decoction. The infusion is often so concentrated that adults should only take 1 TB of a double decoction and children up to ½ tsp for most herbs.
For tasty infusion, check out, Firekeepers coffee! The roasts range from light to “spoon standing on its own in your cup” strong! All are nothing short of delicious!
Sources:
- Nicole Apelian, Ph.D. & Claude Davis, The Lost Book Of Herbal Remedies. Copyrighted by Global Brother SRL © 2019
- Webster Dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infusion
- Celestial Seasonings, https://prestogeorge.com/celestial-seasonings-sleepytime-sinus-soother-tea-bags-20ct/
About Me:
Hello, my name is Shannon. I joined FireKeepers International as a volunteer in 2023. In
2014, I began the Master Herbalist program at Trinity School of Natural Health and
completed the program in September of 2017. Since then, my main studies have been Biblical truths, astronomy and the Hebrew language. I am a born and raised “Michigander,” living in one of Northern Michigan’s beautiful national forests.
When I’m not busy with the homestead, I'm out in nature or hibernating in my cabin.
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