Making an herbal decoction
de·coc·tion
the liquor resulting from concentrating the essence of a substance by heating or boiling, especially a medicinal preparation made from a plant
What is an Herbal Decoction?
So, what precisely is an herbal decoction? A decoction is an herbal preparation created by boiling herbs in liquid, usually water. Herbalist James Green explains, “the object of preparing decoctions is to secure, in aqueous solution, the soluble active principles of herbs that are hard and woody and have a close, dense texture” (Green, 2000, pg. 112).
Interestingly, decoctions just like teas, infusions, and many other forms of preparing herbs, have a long history of use. In Medical Herbalism, herbalist David Hoffmann explains that the old pharmacopeias had thorough descriptions for decoctions of various herbs with an official standard for preparation. He shares the following example for a standard preparation.
The Aquarius Bus
A metaphysical emporium.
You may be interested in...
Ayurveda Unleashed: Painless Self-Healing Using Ancient Medicine
Ayurvedic medicine is based upon the principle of interconnection — between self, nature, and universal consciousness. Learn how Ayurveda, the science of life, can empower you to align with the elements of nature, your own true essence, and the
Health Benefits of Ginger
Health Benefits of Ginger Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems (false stems made of