Prepare an Herbal Tea Infusion
Datetime:2013-12-03 Hits:
An herbal tea infusion is one of the most common methods for preparing herbal remedies. An herbal infusion is a hot-water extract prepared from the leaves, flowers and stems of medicinal herbs, notes Michael Castleman in his book "The Healing Herbs." As an herbal remedy, it can be drunk as a medicinal tea, or used as a therapeutic wash, soak, poultice or compress.
Instructions
1
Measure out 1 oz. of the dried herb of your choice into a warmed teapot or pitcher. If you are using fresh herbs, then measure out double the amount, recommends Joyce A. Wardwell in "The Home Herbal Remedy Book."
2
Bring the water to a boil in the saucepan or kettle, and then pour it over the herbs. Cover and let the herbs steep for 10 to 20 minutes.
3
Strain the herbal infusion with a tea strainer or muslin cloth and discard the herb material. This formulation yields about three cups of herbal tea.
4
Sweeten your herbal infusion with a natural sweetener such as honey or stevia if desired. Alternatively, blend the tea with fruit juice or lemon.
5
Sip on one to three cups of herbal tea a day. Wardwell recommends sipping small, frequent cups of your herbal tea infusion all day long rather than gulping down each batch.
6
Keep in mind that herbal infusions do not have a long shelf life, so you should brew the tea as needed and refrigerate any leftover amount.
