(Dried Mallow Root)When making a cup of tea by pouring hot water over a dried herb (using a teabag is an example) and letting it steep for 10 minutes I am making a hot infusion. I am infusing a dried herb into hot water. This method works to extract many different medicinal compounds, but does not extract mucilaginous plants very well.
Mallow and Comfrey are both examples of plants that contain mucilage and grow within our bioregion. The mucilage that is released soothes a soar throat and a digestive tract at a time of painful inflammation.
A suspended cold infusion is made by soaking a dried herb in room temperature water overnight, in a small cotton poach. In the morning the mucilage is squeezed out and drunk, as is.
The ratio of herb to water is 1:20, for example 50 grams of coarsly ground herb to 500ml of water. This infusion will last about 1 day in refrigeration.
Hi Tes,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, I have heard so many different opinions about what an "infusion" is, and to know that there are actually different kinds for different medicinal compounds, is a relief.
Somewhat off topic... could you talk about willow bark tea at some point? I'm really curious about how and when to harvest, how to prepare it, etc.
Happy Solstice!
hey!
ReplyDeleteit's great to hear you're learning something from this site. i have written about willow- go to the blog archive on the top right hand side of the page. click on january and then click on willow.
there you go!
tell me if you have anymore questions....
tessa
Loved this post! I have always had an interest in herbs but didn't decide to follow that interest until after my time at Linnaea in the herbology classes with Kirsten and Tamara. It is now a passion and I thank you for sharing what you know.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I believe that this information is so important for us to know for this day and time. It is essential for us to hold onto these seeds of knowledge for our ability to survive, especially if oil is no longer available to us in the future.
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