Sage Hill Botanicals

How To Make Decoctions

Published by

Sagehillbotanicals

November 16, 2019

Decoctions are preferred for harder herbs like roots, barks, and seeds, it takes longer to release the healing properties. It’s best, but not necessary, to mash or grind the thick herb before use.

To make a decoction, you just need the following steps:

Use 1 tablespoon dried herb per 1 1/2 cup of cold, filtered water
Bring your water to a boil and add the herbs.
Reduce the heat as low as possible and cover
Simmer for 20 minutes if you’re using small pieces of the herb, but if you’re using bigger pieces, then you can simmer for up to an hour.
Remove from heat and strain off the herbs and serve. If you like, you can also leave them to steep even longer, up to overnight.

Teas from roots are going to be much stronger than infusions, so a typical serving size would be 1/4 cup to 1 cup, depending on what you’re using.

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I’m Lisa

A gardener and herbalist on a journey through life, growing and wildcrafting her own food and medicine. Trusting in the Lord, through health issues, overload of stress, and busy life, shares ideas and recipes that can help you pare down and heal too.

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Plantain, not the banana, but Plantago major. Plantain is a versatile medicinal plant known for its wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and digestive-supporting properties. I use plantain for rashes when seasonal allergies show themselves. I usually get a rash on my hands, arms, and lower legs in the spring, just when I have a lot of garden work to do. So, I harvest a handful of plantain leaves, dry them a couple of days to reduce the water content, and cover them in coconut or olive oil in a glass jar for several weeks. I know the rash is coming, so I have this started long before I really need it. I use the finished plantain oil infusion as is, but beeswax can be added to make a salve as in the photo. I have finished plantain herbal salve in my shop if you need some too. I also have dried plantain leaves from my garden for infusions and tea making as well. Shop HERE