Pike Herb Company 58 Tunnel Road Pottsville, PA 17901

Preparing Herbal Teas

Fresh herbs make the best herbal remedies. Whenever possible, prepare medicinal herbs fresh. Out of season, use fresh dried herbs. And, never use herbs more than a year old.

Infusions

The fresh stems, leaves, and flowers of medicinal herbs are prepared by pouring boiling water over the herbs and then steeping for several minutes

To make an Infusion:

1. Take ½ to 1 ½ teaspoons of the dried herb, place in cup.

2. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the herb. Cover and allow to brew for 10-15 minutes. May be drunk hot (usually best for medicinal herbs) or cold. A bit of honey, raw sugar,or anise may be added.

If you wish to make larger quantities at one time, be sure to refrigerate after brewing, herbal infusions are usually so rich that bacteria can multiply and thrive very quickly. Even a refrigerated infusion shouldn't be kept more than 2 days.

Decoctions

When you're dealing with roots, bark, seeds or hard dense pieces of herbs a decoction is usually the better choice. Pieces should be small.

To make a decoction:

1. Put 1 tsp of dried herb for each cup (or 3 teaspoons fresh) in an enamel or glass saucepan (do not use aluminum).

2. Add 1 cup of water for each teaspoon of dried herb (amounts are approximate)

3. Bring mixture to a boil. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, covered to avoid losing volatile oils. Strain into cup, drink and sweeten as you would an infusion. Again, refrigerate any you aren’t going to drink right away.