How To Make Your Own Herbal Infusions, Decoctions and Broths

You can make your own therapeutic herbal infusions, decoctions and broths. It’s easier than you think to make healing herbal teas.

Herbal teas are the most basic, and perhaps oldest, herbal medicines in the world. Even though herbal teas are often weaker than other herbal preparations, herbal teas are easy to prepare, comforting in times of illness and easy for the body to assimilate.

Today’s herbalists make three different types of herbal teas: infusions, decoctions and broths. The type of tea an herbalist chooses to make depends mainly on the part of the plant used and knowing which preparation method to use with which herb will help maximize the healing potential of these amazing healing plants.

How to Make an Herbal Infusion

Infusions are the most common type of herbal tea and they’re the simplest to make. Typically, infusions are made from the leaves, flowers and other non-woody parts of the herb. To make an infusion, add 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs, or 1 teaspoon of dried herbs, to one cup of near-boiling water and remove the pot from its heat source. Herbal infusions are never boiled because to do so destroys the delicate volatile oils. Instead, herbal infusions are steeped for 5 to 15 minutes in a covered container. After steeping the tea for the appropriate amount of time, simply strain the infusion, allow it to cool and enjoy it.

Herbs that are frequently used to make infusions include peppermint, chamomile and echinacea.

How to Make an Herbal Decoction

For herbal teas made from roots, bark or other tough, woody parts of a plant, an herbal decoction is the method of choice. To make an herbal decoction, add 2 tablespoons of fresh herbs to one cup of simmering water. Unlike infusions, which are prepared without added heat, herbal decoctions are typically simmered (but never boiled) for 15 to 30 minutes before straining. The reason for the added cooking time is that decoctions are used mainly for tougher, woodier parts of an herb and typically need a longer cooking time to release the potential healing benefits.

Herbs that are commonly used to make decoctions include ginger, licorice and cinnamon.

How to Make an Herbal Broth

Herbal broths aren’t used frequently today, but in years past herbal broths were valuable sources of vitamins and minerals, especially during the long winter months when people often had little access to freshly-picked fruits and vegetables. To make an herbal broth, grind 1 tablespoon of dry herbs into a powder and add it to one cup of near-boiling water. Let the broth cool to a comfortable drinking temperature and, without straining the mixture, enjoy your fresh herbal broth and the potentially healing nutrients it provides.

In theory, any edible herb can be used to make an herbal broth but typically, herbal broths are made of herbs chosen mainly for their nutritional value. Frequently, herbal broths contain more than one herb and often contain other foods like garlic, onions or edible mushrooms.

Contributed with permission: ©Lisa Barger

An Education on Shea butter

We put so many different products on our skin everyday. With so many of them containing unnatural and potentially unsafe ingredients, it’s no wonder that many of us suffer from dry skin or blotches. However, if you take notice of the shampoos, lotions, creams, and moisturizing products that don’t bother your skin, they all seem to contain one common ingredient – shea butter. Many people simply are not aware of shea butter’s full potential. To remedy this, Starwest Botanicals offers this quick education to familiarize you with the many benefits to be had through the use of this natural product.

Organic shea butter, for years, has been known to be a healthy alternative to the other forms of skin cosmetics. Made from the fruit of the Shea Tree, it is truly all-natural and also available certified organic. The fruit is removed from the tree, boiled and then crushed into a creamy substance. It is in this form that shea butter maximizes it healing potential along with anti-aging properties. Shea butter is a safe, all-natural alternative treatment to even your skin tone.

The unique characteristics and benefits of shea butter skin care reaches much further than simply creams and moisturizers. It possesses multiple natural anti-inflammatory properties as well as acts as a minor sunscreen agent. As a matter of fact, recent clinical research showed shea butter heals and transforms skin in as little as 4-6 weeks. Frequent users of bulk shea butter see softer, smoother, and better-looking skin.

Those who routinely apply organic shea butter notice a number of other special benefits besides great looking skin. Its healing properties also work wonder for skin ailments such as blemishes and wrinkles while providing soothing relief to itching, sunburns, eczema, and skin allergies. The many health benefits of shea butter put in a unique class of cosmetic. The higher concentrate of pure shea butter in a cosmetic product usually indicates how well it will work.

A natural moisturizer and skin firmer, shea butter promotes skin health, while preventing dryness and wrinkles. Next time you are looking for a natural body care products, be sure to choose organic shea butter from Starwest Botanicals. You won’t regret the choice.

Clinical Research Shows that Devil’s Claw Root May Relieve Arthritis and Low Back Pain

Devil’s claw has been used for centuries in herbal medicinal remedies as a treatment for pain and complications of pregnancy, in topical ointments to heal sores, boils, and skin problems, to restore appetite, relieve heartburn, and also to reduce pain and inflammation. Today, the effectiveness of Devil’s Claw as an effective medicinal treatment in the relief of the pain and inflammation of arthritis and chronic low back pain are being confirmed within the contemporary medical community through clinical studies and scientific research. The research has shown striking evidence that indeed, Devils Claw root may make just as an effective treatment for many ailments as many of the more well know counterparts commonly found in modern medicines

Recent scientific findings support evidence that using devil’s claw root in the treatment of degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis and low back pain helps to relieve pain and inflammation. Notable research has been conducted worldwide and includes studies completed in Germany and reported by the British Society for Rheumatology finding that H. procumbens is indistinguishable from Vioxx in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Additional studies from the Provincial Medical Centre in Canada report that randomized controlled trials in adults suffering from acute, sub-acute or chronic non-specific low-back pain found strong evidence that daily doses standardized to 50 mg or 100 mg harpagoside were better than placebo for short-term improvements in pain.

Representing only a sampling of the research and evidence conducted on the medicinal properties of this herb, the data results clearly demonstrate that using devil’s claw extract may be an effective aid in significantly reducing the pain of chronic arthritis and back pain. As an additional benefit, this is a safe herb that is nontoxic with virtually no side effects if taken at the recommended therapeutic dose for short periods of time. It has been found that Devil’s Claw does promote the secretion of stomach acid so it is recommended that individuals with stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, or gallstones should not take devil’s claw unless recommended by a health care provider. It is recommended to avoid the use of devil’s claw herb during pregnancy and breast-feeding unless otherwise directed by your health care provider. Any herbal therapy should be undertaken under the guidance of a licensed health care provider.

References:

1. Article comparing Vioxx and Doloteffin

2. Provincial Medical Centre Studies