Decoctions & Infusions

Menstruum Properties

Water is known as the universal solvent, it has the ability to dissolve numerous types of compounds, more than any other liquid we know of. This is partially due to its polarity, its hydrogen bonds are able to interact with many plant constituents.  As it passes through any medium, like the herbs we brew tea with, it picks up all different kinds of compounds. It even picks up chemicals from the air! For this reason it is the most essential tool for the herbalist.

Water based extracts are excellent tools for the herbalist to use! You can use both hot and cold water to extract, but cold water infusions take longer. Preparing cold water infusions the day before they are needed and letting them sit overnight is an easy solution. When using hot water you can treat it like a tea and pour the hot water over the herbs or simmer the plants to extract even more active compounds. Both infusions and decoctions when made with water tend to be short extractions. Rather unlike tinctures which may take months to macerate, infusions and decoctions take only hours. Hot water decoctions and infusions are a great option when a quick remedy is needed!

Decoction

Plant Parts

Roots and woody stems, barks, and any other hard plant material you want to extract from.

Use decoctions instead of infusions when the plant parts are hard and woody or have a tough outer layer, these parts of the plant require a more intense form of extraction. By extending the time that the decoction is simmering the hard plant matter can properly be broken down enough to remove the compounds within.

How to…

1. Obtain your plant material, dried roots and bark take longer to steep than fresh ones. 

2. Finely chop your plants and place them in a clean pot.

3. Cover with water and bring to allow simmer, make sure to cover your decoction with a lid. This will.

4. Once the decoction is brought to temp, decrease your heat to low and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes.

Infusion

Plant Parts

Softer materials like leaves, flowers and other aerial parts are great for infusing. They have less rigidity than roots and require less processing to extract the compounds within. Simply stirring or shaking a brew will suffice to extract the material. 

How to…

1. Obtain your plant material, roughly cut leaves will suffice, blossoms may be brewed whole. 

2. Place them in a glass container and pour your cold or hot water over them.

3. If making a cold infusion seal your container and shake periodically, if using hot water let steep covered until the solution is sufficiently infused.

4. Let cold infusions steep for 12-24 hours, strain and enjoy!