Herbal Infusions

Herbal infusions are concentrated water based herbal suspensions. Unlike a tincture, which is usually alcohol based and made from fresh herbs, an infusion extracts the medicinal essence of dry herbs. They can be drunk, like a tincture, but they are also great for external use. When applied to the skin or added to a wash, an infusion can take advantage of the skins natural ability to absorb minerals from it's environment.

An infusion is different from a tea because it uses larger quantities of herbs than a tea, and it is sealed in an air tight water filled container for much longer than you would put the herbs in a tea. It can be drunk cold, at room temp, or even warm.

When storing an infusion, it's best to use quart size glass jars, like the mason jars used for canning. Keep the glasses at room temp, or they may break when you add the boiling infusion. These jars also create a tight seal to keep bacteria out.

Using Dried Roots, Barks, stems, or Leaves:

Put one ounce of the organic material into your glass quart jar, and fill the jar with boiling water.

Put the lid on carefully to avoid being burned. It is ok to use pot holders. Make sure the lid is tight! and wait for the entire solution to cool to room temperiture.

Repour the solution through a strainer into a new jar, so all the organic material should be strained out.

For Dried flowers, repeat the above instructions, but only allow to cool for 2 - 3 hours, no more! Then, strain out flower material.

For Dried Seeds:

Put an ounce of dried seeds into a PINT jar, and fill that pint jar with boiling water.

Put a tight lid on the jar, and let it set for only 30 minutes. Any longer, and your infusion will taste bad.

Strain out the seeds, and put a new lid on the liquid infusion.

How to apply the infusion:

There are a variety of ways to gain the medicinal properties of a herbal infusion. Follow the directions below to use the proper amount for each method of medicating a person.

Herbal infused bath:

Use 2 quarts for an average size bath tub, and fill the tub with water. The herbal treatment will be absorbed via the skin. If you are planning on taking a sitz bath, just find a pan or small basin for your feet, and add 2 quarts of the infusion. Then, sit down and relax!

Using a herbal Poultices:

For this, you will need to keep the organic plant material from the manufacturing process of your infusion and place it on the desired area. This is a topical placement of course...not meant for oral use. You can use the infusion itself to wash the area before applying the organic herbal material. This can treat topical infections or small wounds. For larger, open wounds, you will want to use a herbal compress.

Using an effective herbal compress:

First, place the organic material used to make the infusion in between several layers of cheese cloth, gauze, or even just a clean cloth. Dip a corner of it in the liquid infusion, then gently press it onto the desired area. a compress is generally used on an open wound, or an eye stye. Just be sure not to let any of the cloth or gauze remain in the open wound when you use the compress, or an infection could result.