Make your own brew

Fresh or dried, herbs can be brewed up into teas and decoctions in your own kitchen

Making simple herbal remedies at home such as teas and decoctions is easy as long as you follow a few straightforward rules – the most important being that before you start you can easily identify the herb that you are using.  Infusions and decoctions can be taken internally or used externally, for example in gargles or compresses.

To make an infusion

A herbal infusion is simply a tea, which is made by steeping the herb in just boiled water for around 10 -15 minutes. As a general rule use one heaped teaspoon of dried herb or two heaped teaspoons of fresh herb per cup of tea. Ideally you should make just enough tea to last you through one day, although it can be stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours.

• Steep the plant material in just boiled water in a mug or teapot for 10 -15 minutes.
• Strain through a sieve.
• Drink a cup three times a day. Sweeten with honey if required.
• You can reheat your tea before each cup or you can drink it cold.

To make a decoction

A decoction is similar to a tea but is made by simmering the plant material for around 15 to 20 minutes. This method is usually used for woody plant parts such as roots and bark. Use 25g of herb to 750 ml water. It is best to make enough just for one day, although it can be kept in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Don’t drink more than three cups a day unless advised by a medical herbalist

• Simmer plant material on a low heat in a covered, non-aluminium saucepan for up to 20 minutes.
• Strain through a sieve into a clean jug.
• Drink a cup three times a day, sweetening with honey if required.
• The decoction can be reheated before each cup or drunk cold.

To make a compress

A compress is a pad of soft fabric soaked in a herbal infusion or decoction, which can be applied to a painful area. It can be hot or cold. Hot compresses are useful for relieving cramp or muscle tension while cold compresses are useful if the skin feels hot to the touch. They are especially useful for headaches.

• Soak a clean cotton pad in a herbal infusion or decoction.
• Place pad over affected area and cover with a towel.
• Keep refreshing the compress to keep the area warm or cold as required.

To dry herbs

Although fresh is best, herbs can also be dried to provide you with a ready supply all year round.

• Hang aerial parts (leaves, stems, flowers and seed heads) upside down in bunches and lay cut roots flat on newspaper in a warm ventilated room or airing cupboard until dry. This usually takes around two weeks.
• Store in paper bags or jars out of direct sunlight.
•  Dried herbs will keep for up to a year.

Watchpoint

Dried herb material that starts to change colour due to damp or fungal infection must not be used. Put it in your garden compost or place in a sealed plastic bag in a waste bin.