Many of us want to incorporate medicinal herbs into are diet but have no idea where to start. The most common assumption is that drinking herbal tea will provide us with the full medicinal value of herbs. However, when it comes to maximizing the medicinal value of herbs, the key is in the preparation. Tea is simply not strong enough. Not that there is anything wrong with enjoying a nice flavorful cup of tea for pleasure. However, when it comes to medicinal herbalism tea is simply NOT potent enough. One of the best ways to experience the benefits of medicinal herbs is by drinking herbal infusions. An herbal infusion is a preparation method that requires you to steep a large amount of herb (usually around and on ounce of herb in a quart sized mason jar for a minimum of four hours. Using such a high volume of herbs provides the body with an abundance of vitamins, minerals and nutrients and is a favorite preparation amongst herbalist everywhere.
Some people, especially herbalists prefer to only drink infusions and don't bother with drinking tea. This just happens to be my favorite method of preparing and consuming herbs. I treat infusions the way most people treat supplements and drink them as a way to supply my body with high doses of vitamins and minerals. Drinking at least one cup of infusion a day is a great way to keep the your body healthy and strong. I even use herbal infusions to cleanse my body of intestinal parasites every year (Gross, Right? But we all get them and they cause a looooong list of common and not so common health issues. You can read all about it and even purchase an organic herbal parasite cleanse from my online Herb Shop)
Unlike an herbal tea where you combine 1-2 tsp. of dried herb into a cup of hot water, cover and steep for 5-10 minutes before straining and drinking. To make an herbal infusion, you need to add about an ounce of dried herbs to a quart size mason jar. You then fill the jar with boiling all the way to the to the top, cover tightly with a lid. Let the herbs steep 4-10 hours and then strain and drink.
I usually drink around 4 cups of herbal infusions a day. They have done a great job at keeping my body nourished and healthy. They have helped me grow my hair super long and thick, kept my skin super soft and glowing and I haven't had as much as a cold in over 6 years! You can keep any leftover infusion refrigerated, and discard after 36 hours.
To start incorporating herbal infusions into your diet is super easy and you only need a few things:
A Quart sized mason jar with a lid (32 oz.)
A fine mesh strainer
1 oz. of dried loose leaf herbs
Boiling water
Women's Wellness Herbal Infusion Blend
I personally have an herbal regimen consisting of the same exact herbal infusion blends from my online herbs store. The infusion above is my Women's Wellness Blend. It's great for keeping the reproductive system healthy and strong. A woman's body is constantly going through changes. These constant cycle of changes often times leave us feeling drained, off balance and lacking in the nutrients and minerals that are essential to our well-being. For centuries women have enlisted the healing power of herbs to provide nourishment, treat and strengthen the reproductive system and relieve the symptoms associated with pregnancy, childbirth and menstruation.
You can get the details on the blend by visiting my online Herb Shop
Look at the volume comparisons
Herbal infusion vs. herbal tea
See the nutritional comparison
1 cup of nettle tea has 5-10 mg. of calcium, while a cup of nettle infusion can contain up to 500 mg. of calcium!
