Transform Your Regular Tea into a Powerful Remedy

What Is a Decoction?
A decoction is a concentrated form of a hot infusion or tea. It’s an extremely useful method of infusing herbs that don’t give up their
beneficial chemicals so easily or for woody parts like roots and stems.
So, if you want to extract the medicinal properties from a burdock root to make a detox remedy, then don’t make a tea, make
a decoction.

Decoctions are also ideal for making a much more concentrated version of a remedy. They’re also great for children, animals, or anyone else who is unlikely to drink enough of a hot infusion to do them any good.

The Difference Between Tea and Decoction
The difference between teas and decoctions is simple: infusions are steeped and decoctions are simmered. The reason why we do this is because extracting the medicinal compounds from certain plant parts or even different herbs often requires a little more effort
and time.

How to Make a Decoction
This immune-boosting decoction that’s made from the root of the Echinacea plant is one of my favorites. It’s amazing for raising your body’s resistance to infection. Echinacea is antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal.

As a bonus, this remedy also has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Just be careful using Echinacea internally if you have an autoimmune issue.

Echinacea Root Decoction
You will need:
• 1 oz. dried root echinacea
• 16 oz. distilled water or purified water
• Glass or glazed ceramic cooking pot
• Strainer
• Cup

Make sure that you’re using purified or distilled water for this. It’s best to make your decoction in a glass, or glazed ceramic cooking pot, that way the metal pot doesn’t react with the herb, affecting the flavor.

Instructions:
1. Place the Echinacea root in the cold water and allow the herbs to cold soak for a few hours. This is actually the first part of the infusing process.
2. Cover the pot and bring it to a slow boil. Once the water’s boiling, immediately reduce the heat to a low simmer.
3. Keep simmering until the liquid’s been reduced to about half of what you started with. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes.
4. Strain the liquid and allow it to cool. Once cooled, give it a nice squeeze to get all the liquid out.

Dosing Instructions (for adults and children)
I usually drink about 2 glasses of a decoction when I’m starting to feel sick. For a child, 1 glass will do.

How Long Decoctions Last and How to Store These Properly
As decoctions are a water-based preparation, they have a fairly short shelf life. Decoctions should be refrigerated and used within 48 hours. Freezing a decoction can help extend the shelf life. Pour it into ice cube trays and then store the cubes in a labeled bag or container
once frozen.