What is an Infusion?
Simply put, an infusion is your basic cup of tea. Many leaves and flowers, and some whole plants are soluble in liquids, usually water. There are two kinds of infusions: hot and cold.
The objective of an infusion is to release the medicinal properties of an herb into a liquid that can then be ingested. Each herb has its own unique properties, and it is here that your research is important. Understanding your objective and needs and selecting the appropriate herb to achieve the desired results is the heart of using herbs.
Making an Infusion:
An infusion can be made with either fresh or dried herbs. There are a number of companies that produce some very fine, high quality herbal teas that can make your first steps easy.
If you prefer to use fresh herbs, you would generally use 2 teaspoons of fresh herbs to 1 cup of boiling water. Leaves, flowers and berries should be slightly bruised to help release their aromatic oils.
Cold Infusions:
Cold infusions are used when the active principles of a plant are highly volatile or when it could be injured by heat. A cold infusion consists of soaking the herb in cold water or milk for several hours. The herb is then strained.
Hot Infusions:
This is the most frequently used of all herb preparations and is produced by pouring boiling water over the herb and steeping this mixture in a covered container for fifteen minutes to half an hour.
Preserving an Infusion:
Strain the infusion while hot and pour it into a bottle with a tight stopper. The bottle must be very full leaving only enough room for the stopper. The hotter the infusion and the fewer air bubbles in the container, the longer the infusion will keep.
Using an Infusion:
To begin with, drink ? cup of tea before each meal, for three days. Then take stock. Remember, many herbal remedies help to normalize and detoxify the body, and this takes time. Give your tea a chance to work..
Herbs to Try:
Pepper mint: This is an all around wonderful herb. It is excellent for stimulating the appetite and promoting digestion. It also has wonderful calmative properties that make it an excellent tea before bed. Peppermint can also work wonders for a miserable cold. The preparation for a cold should be very strong, using at least 2 tea bags or 4 tsp of fresh herb and drunken while still quite hot. The fumes from peppermint help to shrink the swelling in the sinus passages and to loosen phlegm in the chest.Chamomile: Is an excellent choice for any problems with the stomach such as indigestion, diarrhea, or upset stomach. Chamomile is a soothing sedative for the body and should be in everyone?s medicine cabinet for whatever might ail you. Chamomile is benign enough for children, however it should be diluted to half strength. Do make sure you are using a reputable supplier for this herb as chamomile is a low growing plant and can often have ragweed mixed in which can aggravate allergies.
Please keep your eye out for our next article: What is a Decoction.
MK Welty hosts an information website for herb enthusiasts at http://usingherbs.com The website focuses on the use of herbs rather than supplements and provides in-depth discussion on the uses of specific herbs and the preparation of herbal remedies.
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