How to brew herbs in a water bath. How to prepare extracts. Rules to follow

The decision to use traditional medicine recipes, to prepare a decoction, infusion, herbal tea, is due to the desire to receive maximum benefit from a natural product.

We believe that the drink prepared by us has healing properties and will certainly help to recover from various ailments.

To meet our expectations, we need to know how to properly brew herbs, prepare tea, decoction or infusion. The cooking process should help keep useful components, for which we appreciate the herbal collection. The immediate result of treatment depends on how correctly this is done.

For the preparation of herbal medicines, dry raw materials are most often used, which are collected in the most favorable period properly dried and properly stored.

For healing drinks used: plant bark, leaves, flowers, roots, stems, seeds. Need to know a few simple conditions to help make the cooking process right:

  1. Before brewing herbs, they must be crushed to increase the amount of nutrients in finished product. This can be done with a mortar (root, bark, stems) or crushed with a knife. Seeds are left in their natural state.
  2. If it is necessary to use a mixture of plants, each type is crushed separately, and then the necessary proportions are mixed, as recommended by the recipe.
  3. For the manufacture of infusions, decoctions, use only glass containers, ceramic-coated dishes with a tight lid. Do not use metal containers to avoid unwanted interactions medicinal solution with a metal surface that can act destructively on the components of the collection during the brewing process.
  4. Filter finished product recommended through several layers of gauze, or use a cotton cloth.

Herbal collection should not be stored for more than two years.

To maintain the correct proportions of multi-component mixtures of medicinal herbs, knowing the following ratios can help: one teaspoon of dry mixture = 5g, a tablespoon = 15g.

Types of herbal medicines

On the basis of medicinal herbal teas, you can get various drugs, differing in the concentration of useful active substances, purpose and method of application, preparation method:

  • Infusion.
  • Decoction.
  • Extract.

If the herbs are brewed properly, healing effect don't make yourself wait long.

Infusion

For their preparation, those parts of the plant are used that do not require long-term preliminary preparation: inflorescences, leaves, fruits.

The classic proportion is one part of the collection to ten parts of water.

There are several simple options, healing herbs how to brew correctly to prepare an infusion:

  1. Dry raw materials must be poured with boiling water, observing the proportion, closed with a lid, let it brew.
  2. Cooking in a thermos is even easier: pour over overnight required amount boiling water collection. The infusion is ready in the morning.
  3. Steaming: pour the collection of herbs, observing the proportions, with boiling water, put in a water bath and warm for 15 minutes, avoiding boiling.
  4. Some herbs require cooking without heating: the collection is poured with water at room temperature, infused for up to 12 hours.

After preparation of a medicinal drink by any of specified ways, it must be filtered, cooled. As an external agent, it is taken in concentrated form, when used internally, dilution with water may be required.

Decoction

Prepared from those components of medicinal collections that require a longer heat treatment - bark, roots, stems, rough parts of the leaves.

When preparing decoctions, dry mixtures are boiled over a fire or steam bath for about 20 minutes, then filter, cool, use as directed. For oral administration, as a rule, it is diluted with water, for external use - in its natural form.

Extract

It is a more concentrated preparation made from medicinal herbal ingredients. Prepare it on the basis of decoction and infusion.

Tea

The method of preparation of this drink from medicinal herbs is identical to the brewing of ordinary tea. Per glass hot water you need about one teaspoon of herb. Let it brew for 7-10 minutes, drink hot or slightly chilled.

It must be remembered that phytotherapy has indications and contraindications. Before using medicinal herbs, you should consult your doctor.

We often encounter the fact that in a variety of recipes on how to cook herbal tea or herbal infusion, we meet the phrase " prepare an infusion in a water bath". In this article, we will talk about how to brew herbs in a water bath at home.

What does it mean to "brew grass in a water bath"

We often hear that you need to brew herbs in a water bath, but not everyone understands what this means. And if they do, they don't always know how to do it right.

So, if the bath is water, then keyword in this phrase "water", that is, on the water. So you need to heat or cook not on fire, but on water. We all know that the boiling point of water is less than +100°C.

It is this temperature that is most suitable so that the herbs that we need to brew do not boil, but rather brew, that is, warm up. Warmed up slowly and moderately, and at the same time all useful material, which they have, passed into the infusion, prepared in this way.

Water bath for herbs. How to do

If you need to make a water bath at home, take two containers, moreover, so that one of the containers can freely fit (enter) inside the other. It can be, for example, a saucepan and a Turk, a basin and a bowl, a ladle and a jar, etc.

Containers need to be selected, for example, saucepans, large and smaller so that the smaller one enters the larger one, but at the same time, so that it does not touch the bottom. Pour water, it's not worth much either. You don't want the smaller saucepan to float in the larger one.

If you use a jar, then on the bottom of the pan or some other container, you need to put some kind of cloth, and put the jar with the prepared infusion on it. And in the gap that has formed between your jar and a larger container, you need to pour water.

All! Water bath ready.

How to brew herbs in a water bath

Next, you need to put the prepared herbs in a smaller saucepan or jar, pour a glass of boiling water and put it in a large container. Herbs must be mixed according to the proportions that were indicated on the package.

Then pour water into the lower pot and put it on fire. In the lower container, the water will boil, but in the upper one, the herbal infusion will just be brewed in a water bath.

It is necessary to boil the herbal infusion for about 20 minutes, and after the infusion has cooled down a little, it is filtered, boiled water is added to it, as much as it has boiled away, i.e. to the lost volume, and then take according to the scheme.

If bark is used in the infusion, then you need to boil longer, about 30 minutes.

Is it possible to brew herbs in a thermos?

The answer is unequivocally - it is possible. Brewing herbs in a thermos can perfectly replace brewing herbs in a water bath. Because the whole point of a water bath is precisely that the brewing temperature is close to the boiling point and does not decrease.

Hello everyone!

Recently, I very often have to deal with information that everything can be cured with drugs.

that they are much more effective than pills, and what modern medicine understands nothing of it.

What to seek salvation from various diseases needed in recipes traditional healers, in old books on folk medicine where herbs are one of the main components of any remedy.

Many really believe that herbal treatment is simple and very beneficial.

I do not quite agree with such a philistine statement and therefore I decided to write this post on how to be treated with herbs correctly and safely.

From this article you will learn:

How to be treated with herbs correctly and safely - the secrets of herbal medicine

I finished medical University, Faculty of Pharmacy.

And one of the most important and complex subjects that we studied on the course was pharmacognosy, the science of medicinal plants.

We studied this subject for five years, and it was more difficult to pass an exam in it or get a credit than in any chemistry or pharmacology.

How we taught these herbs, only those who studied there know.

We not only memorized the names of plants and their area of ​​application, but also worked with a microscope, made chemical reactions, defining chemical composition raw materials and its structure, considered the roots and leaves in the context, they sketched all this, memorized and crammed.

In the spring, we went to harvest medicinal raw materials, analyzed them using modern methods studies and, of course, studied its full application.

I still remember a huge table filled with Petri dishes with dry medicinal raw materials, somewhere whole, somewhere crushed.

From this abundance, you had to choose what they would call you and prove that it was exactly that collection or that plant, by physical and chemical means.

Therefore, I can with great confidence refute the false assertion that medicinal plants are the lot of knowledge of herbal grandmothers or traditional healers. official medicine knows no less, and even more about how to treat them and how to do it correctly.

It's hard for me to imagine how much latest research held annually for medicinal plants This science never stands still.

In the conditions of modern ecology, plants change their composition, which means that their scope may change or new contraindications may appear, and the latest technology allow you to discover new medicinal properties known or unfamiliar plants.

Therefore, you should not rely so much on old folk healers, but it is best to buy a modern reference book of medicinal plants, which will indicate their chemical composition, medicinal properties and methods of application, as well as contraindications, and be sure to use them correctly.

Herbal treatment - important rules and tips

To begin with, I would like to voice several features of herbal treatment that few people pay attention to:

If you hear somewhere a story about how a person completely cured himself of cancer in the fourth stage with an infusion of oats or chamomile flowers, consider that a miracle of healing simply happened to him, for the most part, thanks to his faith in himself, in God, in life, into this medicinal plant, or maybe he did something else that you don't know about.

Try Herbal Healing muscular dystrophy, bass, multiple sclerosis, meningitis...

  • Herbal medicine is not as safe as many people think it is.

Medicinal raw materials can cause severe allergies, poisoning, run pathological processes in the body, negatively affect the development of the fetus in pregnant women, potency in men, and much more.

Therefore, before drinking any "harmless" weed, be sure to familiarize yourself with the possible side effects, which she can give and her contraindications for use.

Particularly dangerous are illiterate medicinal fees, herbs collected in ecologically polluted areas, as well as taking herbs at the same time as medicines.

Always remember what time we live in, and plants, like people, absorb everything from the environment.

  • A number of medicinal herbs have a strictly defined safe dose applications.

Roughly speaking, there are herbs that, in excess of the dosage, turn into poison.

  • Medicinal herbs contain "harmful chemicals"

Well, I already hinted at this in paragraph 2, in addition to useful microelements, medicinal raw materials contain harmful ones (salts heavy metals) . They are especially abundant in those that gathered along auto and railway roads and in other environmentally unfavorable places.

  • Medicinal herbs should not be used for a long time and constantly

Some herbs are addictive, while others long-term use, depress the nervous system, cause an overdose, which is accompanied by negative consequences, so the course of treatment with herbs is individual.

For example, Mint tea, with constant use, greatly lowers blood pressure, "safe" chamomile, with long-term use, violates the absorption of iron, wormwood can provoke a violation nervous system, call for convulsions and fainting.

Therefore, "healing" with herbs from one disease, you can easily acquire another.

How to properly and safely treat with herbs?

So, remember the basic rules - how to be treated with herbs:

  • In order for the grass to retain all the useful components, it is very important to collect it according to all the rules.

Taking into account the place of collection, the time of collection, as well as the conditions for its harvesting and drying. How to do this correctly, you can read in any good reference book of medicinal plants.

It is best to collect herbs yourself, following all the rules for harvesting, drying and storage.

Or buy medicinal herbs from time-tested manufacturers and specialized pharmacies, where you will be provided with all product quality certificates, including documents for its radiological control.

I do not advise anyone to buy herbs in the markets from unknown people, no one knows exactly what might be in them, where they were collected!

  • You need to brew in a glass dish in a water bath.

This rule is important to follow because plants are able to interact with various chemical components and accumulate them in themselves, so boiling in metal, plastic dishes can be dangerous.

Medicinal raw materials are usually used in the form water infusions and decoctions or alcohol tinctures.

The infusion is prepared from soft plant materials (flowers, leaves, herbs), decoctions from hard plant materials (roots, bark, dry fruits)

Usually infusions and decoctions are prepared in a ratio of 1:10

  • How to prepare medicinal infusion?

We prepare raw materials, take 1 tablespoon of dry chopped grass. Pour a glass of hot water and boil in a water bath for 15 minutes. Then remove from heat and cool for 45 minutes. We filter.

  • How to prepare a decoction of herbs?

We prepare raw materials, 1 tbsp. l per 1 glass of water, pour hot water and boil in a water bath for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes. We filter hot.

The only exception is, which is prepared according to special rules.

It is not necessary to increase or decrease the time of boiling and infusion.

it optimal ratio in which all active ingredients leave the medicinal raw material in an infusion or decoction, do not change, are not inactivated, but act with optimal benefits for the body.

Strained infusion or decoction is brought to 100 ml with water and taken in the indicated dosage.

Shelf life of water infusions and decoctions - no more than three days in the refrigerator

Medicinal crushed raw materials are poured with 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1:10, infused for 30 days in a dark, cool place, hermetically sealed, then filtered and stored in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

  • It is necessary to take infusions and decoctions in accordance with the indicated dosage.
  • When treating with herbs, they should not be used at the same time as medicines, alcohol, fatty and spicy foods.

Are herbs in sachets good for you?

I have an ambivalent relationship with them.

On the one hand, this is convenient, but on the other hand, the technology for preparing infusions and decoctions is absolutely violated.

And given that they are made like tea bags (low-quality raw materials after sifting), then it is better to buy herbs in bulk for treatment.

Well, and yet, I would like to voice such a moment as to be treated with herbs correctly.

When you come across an herbal treatment recommendation or prescription herbal collection before you start using it, open a good reference book of medicinal plants (which lists the full chemical composition, structure, properties, etc.) and read:

  • composition and contraindications of this medicinal raw material,
  • pay attention to its dosage,
  • component compatibility
  • ways of application.

And only after that, make a decision whether to use this fee or not.

Some herbs today are credited with such incredible effects that you are amazed !!!

So before believing another myth that some kind of herb or collection can cure, for example, alcoholism, read official studies, look at its chemical composition, what is in this herb that can really help solve this problem and draw your own conclusions.

Well, and finally, I really love medicinal ones, I collect and prepare them myself.

I always have thyme, mint, oregano and many others at home.

I am convinced that at correct application, at certain diseases, they can have an effective therapeutic and cosmetic effect, restore strength and energy.

Therefore, be sure to use medicinal herbs, but do it correctly, and then, herbal medicine will bring real benefits to you and your body.

Remember right away: it's very simple. There are no tricks and no complicated rules. Many, faced with complicated rules, perceive them as an impossible action and do not even try to start doing something because of the complexity, incomprehensibility, inconsistency and confusion of the information available. Meanwhile, everything is simple:

1. cold infusion prepared as follows: pour the grass with boiled water for 6-8 hours. So simple? Why is it called infusion? Because herbs are infused with water. But if you insist on alcohol, then it will be tincture . Tincture of St. John's wort or tincture of chamomile.

2. hot infusion , judging by the name, differs in that the grass is poured with hot water. Is it logical? Logically.

3. Decoction prepared like this: herbs boil for a while in boiling water.

It's very simple, isn't it? As you can see, all three methods differ only in the force with which we are trying to pull something out of the plant. In this simplified description of the methods, I did not say anything about doses, or about temperature, or about the time during which biologically active substances are extracted from the herb. For what? In order to create the appearance of ease of preparation of infusions and decoctions.

There are many recommendations on the nuances of cooking, and they are all different, although they differ from each other only in minutes and grams. And those who get hung up on these minutes and grams begin to think: what is more correct? And in vain! These minutes and grams affect only 5-10% of efficiency. And no more. Therefore, I will not briefly name these figures, taken from the ceiling, but will lead you along a long path of logical conclusions:

    1. What, from what can be extracted using cold water?
    Can we get something out of the old dry leaves and roots? Hardly. But if you take fresh plants, just plucked? At all a small amount of slime and essential oils. But just the kind that would completely collapse from heating. Clear? With a cold infusion, everything is clear.
    2. And here hot water 70-80 degrees much more can be achieved: extract saponins, bitterness, fatty oils from grass.
    3. If you scald the dry mass boiling water, then you can extract some more substances from plants. Those that could not be extracted with cold and warm water. Therefore hot infusion used for processing old dried leaves and thin stems.
    4. In order to draw out useful substances from thick stems, roots and even branches, the method of preparing decoctions is used. Decoction allow us to extract flavonoids and tannins.
    5. And alcohol-soluble components can only be extracted alcohol. They are not removed by cold water. When boiled, they are destroyed.

The main thing to understand: one method extracts one thing, the other - another. That is, it is practically possible to pour grass warm water, clean in the dark, after three days drain the liquid through a strainer and drink. This is what you drank infusion. Boil water, pour into the same kettle, let stand for 4 minutes and drink tea in the morning. At lunch, marry the same herb: scald with boiling water, let stand for 15 minutes and drink like tea after dinner. In the evening, take a saucepan, put grass in it, boil for 3-4 minutes ... and drink decoction. Each time you will receive different components of this raw material.

How much to take "herbs" - so we simply call vegetable raw materials? The most average number is -1. One tablespoon per glass of water. If you are preparing everything for only one person, then, as a rule, we are talking about two tablespoons per large glass or half-liter jar. I specify: a spoon without a top, exactly on the edge.

Why did we analyze the methods of brewing tea in such detail? In order to make it clear now that by the method of hot infusion in the first four minutes we will extract only components from the herbs. Spill received infusion in tea cups, immediately scald the grass with boiling water and leave for another ten minutes - we extract the other components of the herbs. Drain received infusion, we scald the grass with boiling water and put it on the fire, after half an hour we get the third composition, with the maximum number biologically active compounds contained in our herb.

Your questions:
And why was it necessary to do the previous two stages, if we could immediately get the maximum by putting the grass on the fire for half an hour? Did you ask? Now think about it for yourself and find the correct answer: If we took grass and immediately subjected it to a long heat treatment, then we would get only one product, destroying everything that we got in the first two stages.
We would have received only one product, and so we got three. Three different servings of vitamins, saponins, antioxidants...

Did it get long? A real libel. Why do I write like this, as for kindergarten teachers (children's hell))? The answer is simple: to make it clear to everyone. My reader has already left the age of ease of perception of new material. He needs a phased assimilation from the second or third time (judging by myself)). What is old, what is young - therefore it is better to write as for a kindergarten than as for a university. There are enough books in the “Help Yourself” series, which make it impossible to understand what to do, without me. Usually there is a list of methods and techniques, but it is not written what to choose. And this is the most difficult and stressful task for a person. The problem of choice - that which distinguishes man from animals - is the most a big problem. It is she who generates stress and most neuropsychiatric diseases. One of the patients told me that such books are just a mockery of the reader: if all methods are equally good, then what to do with them? Therefore, I try to write as I advise you to eat: a handful of rice needs to be chewed a hundred times.

Understand: the main thing is to do something. Some critics will say it's better to do nothing than to do it wrong. I retort: ​​not the case. If you do not keep the grass on fire or overdo it for 2-5 minutes, or the water temperature is not 100 degrees, but 97 - nothing bad will happen. But if you do not drink these herbs then nothing good will ever happen. The choice is yours.

Which is better - hot or chilled?
A similar question: drink cooled or warmed up?
Most big effect infusion or decoction had when you brewed it. Less than two hours later. But if you warm it up, then even less. The answer is obvious: fresh. Or standing. No need to boil the finished infusion a second time or decoction.
With or without sugar? Last years so much is written about the dangers of sugar ... Myths about the dangers of sugar are greatly exaggerated. We will return to this again and again. For now, I will say: for those who find it tasteless and bitter, it is better to drink with sugar than not to drink at all. Drink with sugar. I myself drink tea almost half the time and herbs with sugar or milk. Or with sugar and milk.
NB! for those who are afraid of gaining weight, tea with milk is categorically not recommended! There are no other restrictions.
How warm to keep the jar and how to infuse herbs? Every time you heat up the oven you are tormented. For example, I simply put a hot kettle on top of a large glass of tea leaves or a jar of herbs. Pour out the glass and drink. Pour boiling water over the jar and warm again. The wife grumbles, fearing that this might damage the teapot. I explain to her: If the kettle was boiling, then the plastic is designed for this temperature. Theoretically, I admit that inside the plastic can be coated with some other special compound. But she does not give this argument, so for many years I have been betting on my own.

Possesses unique properties For centuries, people have believed in healing power herbs. Nature itself endows them with the ability to cure many ailments. From medicinal plants you can cook delicious and healthy tea which can be used for prevention and treatment. What effect do herbs have on the body, how to brew herbal tea correctly?


Types of herbal tea

There are several types of herbal tea:

  • Phytocollection. Tea made from a mixture of herbs different types. They are united by the same properties and taste. The collection of herbs can be mixed with classic teas, you can brew them separately.
  • Mixed tea. The basis of this tea is black or green tea. Large quantity makes a traditional tea, a little herb is added to it. An example is black tea with lemon balm or mint.
  • Monochai. This type of tea is brewed from one type of plant. It could be a mint drink.

When purchasing herbal tea in a regular store, you need to carefully read the information on the package. Many of these teas are unnatural, containing flavors that are unlikely to be beneficial. It is better to choose tea from herbs that are collected in ecologically clean areas. The packaging must indicate the place of collection and packaging.

The shelf life of such tea should be observed. It must not exceed 18 months. After the expiration date, tea will not harm, but its taste changes, beneficial features disappear.

Useful properties of herbal teas

Each medicinal plant has its own beneficial properties, each phytocollection has a different effect on the body. But common teas have:

  • They have a calming effect on the nervous system.
  • Good thirst quencher.
  • Help with weight loss while dieting.
  • Saturates the body with useful trace elements.

Herbal tea contraindications


  • Herbal teas can also be harmful. When collecting herbs on your own, you need to be well versed in medicinal plants in order to avoid poisoning.
  • Any herb can cause an allergic reaction.
  • Fitosbory cannot be accepted long time and without consultation with a graduate.

Rules for brewing herbal tea

When brewing herbal infusion certain rules must be followed. The instructions are printed on the packs of herbal preparations, you can follow them to get the maximum result. Another thing, if we are talking about self-prepared herbal collection. Can be prepared from medicinal plants healing infusion, decoction and tea.

Preparation of the infusion

10 g of dried raw materials (collection of herbs or one plant) are poured into an enamel bowl. Pour 200 ml of hot water, close the lid. The mixture is heated in a water bath for 15 minutes, then cooled for 45 minutes. The infusion is filtered, the raw material is squeezed out, added boiled water to restore the volume to 200 ml.

Decoction preparation

10 g of dried raw materials are placed in an enameled container, poured with 200 ml of boiled hot water. In a water bath, the mixture must be kept for half an hour. At room temperature the broth is kept for about 10 minutes. After filtration, the raw material is squeezed out, brought to a volume of 200 ml with boiled water.

Making herbal tea

When making herbal tea, you can use your favorite tea (green, white or black). It can be brewed classic recipe, when brewing, add a spoonful of herbal collection, several sprigs of mint, lemon balm, chamomile flowers or thyme sprigs to the mixture. The drink can be infused for about 10 minutes.

How to drink herbal tea

When treating various ailments with herbal tea, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosage, the time of admission, take tea in courses, taking breaks. Some herbal teas you can drink as a preventive measure. In any case, it is recommended to consult a phytotherapeutist or your doctor, who can prescribe the dosage. In most cases, the dose should not exceed three glasses per day.

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