Last updated on May 18th, 2023 at 03:17 pm
Medicinal herbal infusions are a great addition to any real food kitchen. Even though it may seem very intimating, it is a pretty simple and fantastic tool to have in your holistic toolkit. In general, herbal infusions use the more delicate parts of the plant. For example, the leaves, flowers, buds, berries, or seeds. Some highly aromatic roots (valerian, ginger, goldenseal) can also steep in a herbal infusion.
In short, the more delicate part of the plants steep in hot water to gently extract all the medicinal properties. Moreover, steeping helps to protect the enzymes, vitamins, and precious essential oils as it is much less destructive.
We call this steeping method herbal infusions, which is very simple to do right in your kitchen.
The longer you steep the herbs, the stronger the herbal infusion. However, this is not always preferable because it can bring forth some of the less desirable parts of the plant.
Steps to make medicinal herbal infusions at home
1. Place 4-6 tablespoons of dried herbs or 6-8 tablespoons of fresh herbs into a wide-mouth glass jar.
2. Pour boiling water over the herbs, filling the jar. Steep for 30-45 minutes.
3. Strain and enjoy.
*The infusion’s strength is determined by the amount of herbs used and the steeping time.
Some of my favorites include nettle, st john’s-wort, spearmint, hibiscus, chamomile, and peppermint.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and is for educational purposes only.
To order bulk organic and sustainably harvested herbs and spices, visit Mountain Rose Herbs!
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