How to Make Herbal Infusions or Decoctions

Herbal infusions, or herbal teas, are made by steeping 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb in one cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes.

    

Herbal infusions are teas made from medicinal herbs. They are different from decoctions because of the plant material used to make the infusion. Herbal infusions are made from the real part of the plant (the leaves, flowers, and stems). Decoctions are made from plant roots, rhizomes, barks, and seeds. Infusions and decoctions are made by steeping 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb in one cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. The exact amount depends on the type of medicinal herb being used.

To Make an Herbal Infusion

1. Place the dried and crushed herb in a tea infuser, strainer or tea bag.
2. Boil the water and pour 1 cup of the water over the herb.
3. Cover with a lid and allow to steep for 10 to 15 minutes.

It is important that the herb leaves, plants, and stems be covered when steeping so that the medicinal properties of the herb do not escape with the steam.

To Make an Herbal Decoction

1. In a saucepan boil 1 cup of water.
2. Add the dried and ground medicinal herb and reduce the heat to low.
3. Cover the pan and allow the herb to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

When making a decoction it is important to grind the herb finely. The finer the root, rhizome, seed or bark is chopped the more potential there is to extract the medicinal benefits from the herb.

Additional Tips

1. It is best to use filtered water in preparing infusions and decoctions.
2. Do not use a microwave to heat the water.
3. The herbal tea can be saved for several days if refrigerated.
4. You can make herbal infusions and decoctions from fresh plant material instead of dried plant material. Dried plant material is more concentrated. It takes approximately 7 teaspoons of fresh plant material for every 1 teaspoon of dried plant material discussed above.
5. Coffee grinders, spice mills, and food processors make excellent grinders for dried and fresh herbs. Mortars and pestles were traditionally used for grinding herbs.
6. If you are drying, crushing, and grinding your own herbs label everything with the contents and the date. Herbs are best if used within 6 months to a year of drying.

Peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, red clover, nettle, and dandelion are wild growing or commonly grown herbs that make excellent teas. Mints and lemon balm are very tasty and are often combined with less palatable herbs for flavor. For more information on the health benefits of these herbs consult the resources below.

Additional Resources

Preserve and Use Dandelion

Making Herbal Ointments at Home

Herbal ointments can be used to treat dry skin or to heal cuts, scrapes, or insect bites.

• 2 cups of olive oil

• 4 ounces of dried herb

• 1 cup of grated beeswax

Chop the dried herb using a spice mill, coffee grinder, food processor, or traditional mortar and pestle.

1. Place the dried herb and olive oil in a heat-safe glass dish. Do not cover the herbal mixture.
2. Warm over low heat, stirring regularly. The temperature of the oil should remain between 100 and 125 degrees. The herb should remain at this temperature to infuse in the oil for three hours.
3. Allow the herbal oil to cool.
4. Strain the herbal oil through cheesecloth and discard the spent herb.
5. Measure the herbal oil.
6. Add one ounce of beeswax for every one cup of herbal oil.
7. Warm the oil again until the beeswax melts.
8. Any other ingredients desired in the herbal ointment can be added at this point. Vitamin e, honey, and essential oils are common ingredients added to herbal ointments.
9. Pour the herbal ointment into a glass jar. Label the herbal ointment with the contents and date of preparation. Cap the container with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. The herbal ointment will harden as it cools in the refrigerator.

• Calendula – used to treat cuts and scrapes, insect bites, acne; also softens skin

• Lavender – used to treat cuts and scrapes, boils, acne, burns, insect bites, rashes, external yeast infections, general skin care, insect repellent, perfumes; also softens skin

• Comfrey – used to treat cuts and scrapes, bruises, eczema; also softens skin

• Chamomile – used to treat puffy eyes

• Black Walnut Hulls – used to treat cuts and scrapes, sores, poison oak and ivy

• Plantain – used to treat insect bites

• Chickweed – used to treat cuts and scrapes, psoriasis

• Fragrant flowers such as lavender and roses can also be used to make pleasant smelling herbal ointments.

Herbal ointments are made from herb-infused oil and wax, usually beeswax. The oil helps the herb to be absorbed by the skin. Herbal ointments can be used for massage, to treat dry skin, or to heal cuts, scrapes, or insect bites. Ointments are stored in the refrigerator, where they remain somewhat solid. When herbal ointments are applied to the skin, the warmth of the body melts the ointment into an easy to spread the herbal oil.

Making Herbal Ointments

Ingredients:

Directions:

Herbs Commonly Used for Herbal Ointments

Many herbs work well for skin care and as preparation of ointments. Following is a list of herbs which are well suited for use in skin care products.

Storage of Herbal Ointments

Herbal ointments should be stored in the refrigerator in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Benzoin is an herbal tincture that can be added to homemade herbal skin preparations as a preservative. Benzoin can sometimes cause skin irritation, so do not use it on sensitive skin, or for herbal ointments to be applied to cuts or scrapes.

Make Herbal Tinctures

Copyright HS Schulte