Herbal Lesson 07

HOW TO MAKE HERBAL DECOCTIONS
Daniel Blankley - Monday, November 27, 2017

We already discussed DECOCTIONS briefly in Lesson 04 How to Make Herbal Teas which included both Infusions and Decoctions.

I covered Herbal INFUSIONS by Itself in the Last Lesson and now we will more specifically cover DECOCTIONS.

TO REVIEW:

An INFUSION is made by soaking the upper stems, leaves and flowers of a plant or herb in liquid, usually hot water. A DECOCTION is made from roots, bark, seeds, nuts or other hard parts of a plant by boiling and simmering. Ginger Root and walnuts are 2 hard substances which require this method to make an herbal drink.

Now it is important to mention here that both Infusions and Decoctions may be done in other liquids besides water. The most common other liquids are Alcohol, Vinegar, Oil and sometimes Milk.. (like hot chocolate)

When done it Alcohol it is always a COLD INFUSION because Alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature (173.1°F or 78.37°C) than water (212°F or 100°C). When we do this in Alcohol, we give it a different name. We call it a TINCTURE and you will be making Tinctures later in the course. When we do this in Oil we also give it a different name. We call it INFUSED OIL to differentiate from a Water Infusion.

Vinegar is a common liquid in which to infuse herbs and spices, and you may remember Grandma or Mom doing this with spices as a step in PICKLING. It is also called for sometimes in medicinal herbal formulas.

In the Old Days sometimes herbs were steeped in Hot Milk and sometimes Alcohol was added just before drinking. You will also see this sometimes called for in medicinal herbal Remedies.

IN THIS LESSON you may make a DECOCTION in either Water or Vinegar and I have included videos to help you with the Hands-On part of this lesson.

HANDS-ON PRACTICE WITH VIDEOS

YOU WILL NEED:

Small Saucepan with Lid

Herbs: (allow 4oz) Ginger Root (from supermarket), Echinacea Root, or other choices from the videos

I SUGGEST if you are on a budget buy some ginger root in the supermarket and make this Ginger Tea which is really a DECOCTION.



Here is the Video once again from Mountain Rose Herbs presented in Lesson 05



Here is another good DECOCTION Video from a Professional Herbalist



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