Herbal Remedies and Their Preparation: Infusion and Decoction

The return to choosing herbal remedies over synthetic or pharmaceuticals is not just a trend towards healthy options, but acknowledgment that nature provides botanical (as well as zoological) options for most--if not all--of humankind’s ills.  But as any experienced herbalist will be quick to point out, treating ailments with herbs is not as simple as just obtaining an herb you’ve read about online and deciding, “Hey, I’m gonna try that.”  The practice of herbology involves learning to relate symptomology to diagnosis, knowing when and when not to choose a particular herb, acquiring the appropriate part of the plant, and of course, preparing it in a manner that best allows the body to utilize its healing properties.  Infusion and decoction are the two most common methods used.  Read more . . .