Detlef F. Wolf

The Ancient Art of Decoction (Brewing Herbs).

Through the centuries, practitioners have always stressed the importance of correctly decocting an herbal tea. The effectiveness of the medicine depends not only on the ingredients of the tea, but how it is prepared.

Equipment
Traditionally, a special glazed clay herb cooker is used but any ceramic, stainless steel, or glass pot will do. Do not use a container that is made out of cast iron or aluminum. Chinese herbs can interact with these metals and cause a chemical reaction that could alter the therapeutic quality of your herbs.

Water
In ancient times the source of the water was an important issue. Some teas required water from a spring; others called for rainwater. At present, unless specifically noted under the method of preparation for a particular formula, tap water is just fine. Any drinking water will do. The purity and cleanliness of the water you choose is a personal choice.

Soak the Herbs
Place the herbs in water. The water should cover the herbs by about an inch and a half. A good rule of thumb is to have about twice as much water in the pot as herbs. Allow the herbs to soak for 20 minutes. This will facilitate the extraction of the active ingredients during the process of decoction.

Boil and Simmer
Bring the water to a rolling boil. Then, turn down the heat to a low simmer and cover. Do not lift the lid to look at the herbs too often as this will diminish the “flavor” and allow the volatile oils to evaporate out of the tea very easily.

Cook herbs until two cups (about 400ml) of liquid remains. This usually takes 20-30 minutes.

Strain the Tea and Cook the Same Herbs a Second Time
The most common and cost effective method of brewing a decoction is to decoct the ingredients twice. Both times the herbs are boiled down until two cups (about 400ml) of liquid remains. After the second cooking, discard the herbs. The four cups of liquid are combined and will give you a two-day supply of tea.

Drinking the Tea
One cup of tea is to be taken twice a day (usually morning and evening), or two-thirds of a cup is taken three times a day (in the morning, afternoon, and evening). Try to drink the tea before eating; this permits maximum absorption to occur quickly. If you are taking medication, drink the tea at least 1 hour before or after ingesting your medication to reduce the risk of interactions.

It is common to find the taste of the tea disagreeable. Your body will get used to the taste and in some cases begin to crave a certain formula. However, if you find the taste so unpalatable that you don’t drink the tea, there are measures you can take to make it more drinkable. Experiment with drinking the tea at different temperatures. Warm the tea up in the microwave or drink it cool from the refrigerator. We also suggest watering down the tea or adding a natural sweetener such as honey. None of these suggestions will lessen the potency of the herbs and they will help a great deal.

Keep it Simple!
The art of decoction is much the same as cooking rice. There are many different methods that all serve to draw out the therapeutic quality of the herbs.
These directions to brewing herbs should be secondary to the advice of your herbalist. Certain herbs require different methods of decoction and each patient has different needs.

Ways to Use or Ingest Chinese Herbs
Over the course of the past three thousand years, practitioners have developed many ways in which to administer herbal medicine to patients. Matching the appropriate type of herbal preparation to the patient and health concern is one of the most important aspects to good practice.

NOTE: Always be sure to ask for easy to follow preparation and dosage instructions when you purchase medicinal herbs

Herbal Teas:
The most effective method of using herbal medicine is in the form of a decoction or herbal tea. Decoction is the ancient art of cooking herbs in water as a means of concentrating the active ingredients within the plants. (You will find easy to follow cooking instructions with your supply of herbs.) Traditionally, a special glazed clay herb cooker is used but a glass or stainless steel pot will do. The liquid is strained and taken as a tea two or three times a day.
One of the primary advantages of a decoction is that the body rapidly absorbs it; its effects are strong and immediate. In addition, it is easy to modify the recipe to customize the treatment of a particular patient. Although herbal teas are strong and powerful, they may have an unpleasant odor and taste that many people find unpalatable. More convenient methods of taking Chinese herbs are available.

Liquid Extracts:
These are made by soaking the herbs in a solvent (usually alcohol) to extract the active ingredients, and then heating the liquid to evaporate some of the alcohol. The benefit of a liquid extract is that the bottle is convenient to take with you where ever you go and the recommended dosage is minimal; usually 3-9 droppers full a day. Approximately 1ml of a liquid extract contains the active ingredients of 1g of a normal ingredient.

Tablets and Capsules:
This is the usual method that Chinese prepared medicines are processed. A combination of Chinese herbs is finely ground and rolled into pills or put into capsules. In general, tablets and capsules are absorbed slowly and over a long period of time. The benefit of tablets and capsules is that they are more easily stored and ingested than teas, and are inexpensive.
They are most commonly used for treating chronic disorders, but can also be kept in your medicine cabinet for quick use in acute disorders such as the common cold, indigestion, or mild constipation. Chinese prepared medicines are available over the counter, but they are nevertheless medicines and should be treated as such. It is important to consult with a qualified practitioner of Chinese medicine before taking Chinese prepared medicine.

Granules:
This is the most modern method of processing herbs. The herbs are boiled until thick syrup remains and then dried. After decoctions, granules are considered to have the highest effectiveness of all the preparations. Granules can retain their potency for long periods of time. They are stronger-acting than most pills, and require less medicine per volume than liquid extracts.

Lotions, Creams, Salves and Poultices:
Lotions, creams, salves and poultices are generally applied to sore or inflamed areas of the body to relieve pain and inflammation. They are traditionally called “hit medicines” because of their origination in the martial arts. Over the past two thousand years, masters of the martial arts have discovered that many herbs have a remarkable effect on the healing process of bruises, cuts and broken bones.

A poultice is prepared by combining powdered herbs with a moistening agent such as honey or egg white. The paste is than spread on muslin or cloth and applied for one to eight hours to the sore or inflamed area of the body.