How to Make a Medicinal Cup of Tea
We mostly drink tea for two reasons: pleasure and medicine. Herbal teas will always be my favorite way of using herbs medicinally. It’s a simple, effective, and ritualistic way of self-healing and bringing balance back into the body. All you need is hot water, measured herbs, and a cup/mason jar. Aim for glass, ceramic, and stainless steel teapots/kettles as they’re non-toxic. If using a sweetener, I recommend local raw honey or licorice root as opposed to sugar. It can be drunk hot, cold, or at room temperature, made into ice cubes and/or popsicles. Once brewed, drink immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
Herbal tea preparations are simple but do require some skill. Gentle herbs/leaves are made as infusions, and heartier root and bark herbs are made as decoctions. Knowing the proper ways to extract the medicinal properties from your teas will help you get the most out of your herbal medicine.
Medicinal vs. Standard
Herbal tea, in general, is healing (especially warm), but medicinal teas are much stronger than a standard cup of tea by using a higher herb-to-water ratio and steeping/simmering longer. A standard cup of tea typically consists of one teaspoon per cup (8 oz) of water and is steeped for 8 to 12 minutes. In contrast, medicinal tea requires one to three tablespoons of dried herb per cup (when fresh, double the amount of herb) or one ounce per quart of water and steep for 30 minutes to several hours.
It’s best to make medicinal tea in larger amounts so it can be administered in small amounts multiple times throughout the day. Chronic issues typically require one-half to one cup taken three to four times daily, while acute ailments require small sips every 30 minutes until the symptoms subside. Drink 2 to 3 medicinal cups a day when aiming to heal. Stay consistent and continue for 6-12 weeks.
A standard cup of tea:
Grind herbs, cover and steep 1 TSP of herbs for 8 to 12 minutes.
A medicinal cup of tea:
Grind herbs, cover and steep 1-3 TBSP of herbs for 30 minutes to several hours.
Infusions
Mostly everyone is familiar with infusions but tends to know them as the traditional cup of tea. An infusion is a water-based preparation made by steeping the delicate parts of a plant such as the leaves, flowers, aromatic, and other non-woody parts in either hot or cold water. This method is best for the fragile parts of the plant because if simmered, the plant can become damaged and the therapeutic oils that make the herbs medicinal will evaporate. The more herbs you use and the longer you steep, the stronger the tea will be. Don’t forget that you can brew the same herbs 1-3 times.
How to steep (leaves, flowers):
Grind your herbs using a mortal and pestal or whatever you have handy.
Bring water to a boil.
Pour hot water over measured herbs.
Cover and allow hot water and herbs to sit for 10-15 minutes (one to several hours for stronger results)
Strain and enjoy.
Decoctions
Decoctions are typically more potent than infusions and are made by simmering and steeping the tougher/coarser plant parts, such as the roots, barks, stems, and seeds for about an hour. The herbs in a decoction are boiled and simmered whereas with an infusion, the herbs are not boiled at all, only steeped.
How to simmer (roots, barks, seeds):
Grind your herbs using a mortal and pestal or whatever you have handy.
Place measured herbs and cold water in a covered saucepan/pot.
Slowly bring herbs and water to a boil.
Reduce to a lower temperature, just below boiling, and allow to simmer for 30-45 mins (about 60 mins for a stronger resulting tea).
Strain and enjoy.
Combining Infusions and Decoctions
When preparing a mixture made with soft leaves/flowers along with roots and barks, you can either grind the coarse root parts down and choose the infusion route or make the decoction first and when that’s done, add the leaves/flowers to that boiled water; allowing it to steep for 15 minutes or longer.
Plant medicines have many excellent benefits, offering us not only a comforting beverage but also a potential remedy for various ailments. Whether you're crafting a standard cup of tea to unwind after a long day or brewing a medicinal concoction, the act itself is a gesture of self-care and a way to nourish the body, mind, and spirit. The key is to stay consistent and allow spirit to guide you in your medicine-making. I hope this quick guide serves you well and helps you to incorporate more herbal teas into your lifestyle.
Xo.