Herbal Medicine Making: Water Infusions.
Want to know how to make potent and medicinal water-based herbal infusions?
In this article, I am going to cover 3 different water-based herbal preparations:
Tea
Long infusion
Decoction
How To Make A Medicinal Tea.
Herbal teas are an amazing vessel for extracting the water-soluble properties from plants.
It is one of the simplest forms of medicine making, and it is used worldwide in many traditions.
HOW TO MAKE A MEDICINAL HERBAL TEA:
Put 1-2 tsp of your herbal tea or herbal tea blend into a strainer, teapot or French press.
Pour over 250 mL of boiling water.
Cover and let steep for 3-5 minutes.
Strain and enjoy.
In general, herbal tea used for medicinal purposes requires drinking this preparation about 1 tsp in 250ml of water 2-3x daily.
* This is a very general recipe, and the length of time you let the tea steep, water temperature and dose of the herbal tea will vary greatly depending on the type of herbs you use.
BONUS TIP
Use a French press: using a French press, you can make multiple cups of tea in one go and strain either into a thermos (if you prefer hot tea) or put in a jar into the fridge (if you prefer an iced tea).
How To Make Nourishing Herbal Infusion.
A nourishing herbal infusion is where the herbs are steeping in boiling water, anywhere from 4 hours to overnight.
The long extraction time in hot water helps to breakdown the cell walls of the plant matter, thus extracting a higher quantity of the mineral content compared to a tea that is steeped for 3-5 minutes.
Herbs chosen to make nourishing herbal infusions from are plants that are safely consumed as foods.
Popular herbs used in overnight herbal infusions include:
Nettle
Oats Straw
Alfalfa
Burdock
Raspberry Leaf
Red CLover
HOW TO MAKE A TRADITIONAL NOURISHING HERBAL INFUSION
Measure 30g of the dried herb of your choice into a heat-proof/canning suitable 1 litre glass jar.
Pour over 1 litre of boiling water.
Stir to wet the dried herb.
Seal the jar firmly with a lid.
Leave it to infuse on the kitchen bench for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Pour through a fine strainer into a glass bottle or another jar.
Refrigerate and drink throughout the day.
Marshmallow Root Long Infusion
The long infusion I use the most is with marshmallow root as an overnight infusion.
This is a highly potent extract specific for marshmallow, as the medicinal compounds that we want are called polysaccharides, which are carbohydrates that create the gooey mucilage properties of marshmallow.
This mucilage is a wonderful soothing remedy for all mucous membranes in the body (digestive, respiratory, urinary).
You can make this infusion with hot or cold water.
HOW TO MAKE A MARSHMALLOW ROOT LONG INFUSION:
Add 6-15g of marshmallow root to a glass jar (preferably a canning jar or something similar that won’t break when hot water is poured inside).
Add 500-750mls of boiling water or cold water to the herbs and let it steep on the kitchen bench overnight.
Strain the next morning, and sip throughout the day.
TIPS
Marshmallow may not be that palatable for you, so you can add other herbs into the mix. Herbs such as hibiscus and licorice will do well in the overnight infusion, or you can use any of the herbs from the list above!
How To Make A Herbal Decoction
Herbal decoctions are a great water-based medicinal preparation for herbs where tougher parts of the plants are used.
This includes
Bark
Berries
Roots
Rhizomes
HOW TO MAKE A HERBAL DECOCTION
Add 1-2 tsp of herbs to 250 ml of room temperature/cold water to a saucepan
On the stove top, bring the water to a simmer
Simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Strain and enjoy
* You can make multiple cups at a time, just double or triple the recipe to have your day’s worth of herbal medicine.
Want a PDF handout of how to make water-based herbal preparations?
Check out this free cheat sheet that you can print off and add to your herbal resources, add to your recipe folders or have on hand until you get confident in making the different herbal preparations.
Hi, I’m Meg, a naturopathic herbalist helping people reconnect with their health through the power of plant medicine. I offer personalized herbal consultations Australia-wide, combining traditional wisdom with modern naturopathic principles to create tailored herbal support for your unique needs. Whether you're looking for support with stress, digestion, sleep, or overall vitality, I’m here to guide you on your herbal journey.
The information provided on this website is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please see my full disclaimer here.
