CautionAsia · Herb · № 303
Achyranthes root (huai niu xi)
Achyranthes bidentata
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes circulation, liver tonic, pain-relieving.
Chinese medical traditions+2
From plant to use
Decoction
Simmering roots, bark and seeds so they release their flavour and compounds.
- Level
- Easy
- Ratio
- About 1 tablespoon of dried, coarsely cut material per 300–500 ml of cold water.
- Time
- Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 15–30 minutes with the lid on. Mushrooms often longer.
- Shelf life
- Covered in the fridge for 1–2 days.
Hard plant parts give up little in a short infusion. That is why many traditions gently boil roots, bark, seeds and berries: a decoction. Think of ginger root, cinnamon bark and the herbal formulas of Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine.
Suited to
Roots, rhizomes, bark, seeds, dried berries and mushrooms.
Step by step
- Cut or crack the material coarsely to increase its surface.
- Put it in cold water and bring slowly to the boil.
- Turn the heat down, cover the pan and let it simmer gently.
- Strain, and top up with hot water to the original volume if you like.
Tips
- Roots and leaves together? Simmer the roots first, then add the leaves once the heat is off and let them steep for another 5–10 minutes.
- Soak the material in cold water for an hour beforehand for a fuller flavour.
Registry
Herbs prepared this way
Herbs on this site whose description mentions this preparation. That does not mean every herb is safe to prepare yourself: read the safety information for each one.
- Caution
CautionEurope · Herb · № 277
Bistort
Bistorta officinalis (syn. Polygonum bistorta)
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stops diarrhoea and bleeding, anticatarrhal.
Western herbal medicine
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 805
African cherry (pygeum)
Prunus africana
A bark extract is used in Europe for benign prostate enlargement; the evidence is limited.
Local African healing traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 418
Agarwood
Aquilaria agallocha
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, strengthens the heart, tonic, carminative, promotes bile; for skin diseases, gout and rheumatism, vomiting, snake bites, pain from wounds, bronchitis in children, headache, dizziness.
Ayurveda+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 540
Agnimantha
Premna obtusifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, stomachic, carminative, cleansing, tonic, anti-inflammatory, lowers blood sugar; for swellings, pain and diabetes; part of 'dashamula'.
Ayurveda
CautionEurope · Herb · № 57
Agrimony
Agrimonia eupatoria
An astringent, tannin-rich herb traditionally used for diarrhoea, sore throats and minor wounds. Good human research is lacking.
Western herbal medicine+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 705
Akebia stem (mu tong)
Akebia trifoliata (en A. quinata)
Traditionally attributed effects: drains heat via the urine in painful urination, mouth ulcers and restlessness; promotes milk flow.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 739
Cogon grass root (bai mao gen)
Imperata cylindrica
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; promotes urination and cools lung and stomach.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 405
Sage-leaved alangium
Alangium salviifolium
Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms, laxative, emetic, diuretic; antidote in poisoning, for diarrhoea, leprosy and skin diseases, dog bites, worms, acute rheumatism.
Ayurveda
CautionEurope · Herb · № 79
Elecampane
Inula helenium
The root is traditionally used for productive coughs and bronchitis; it is rich in inulin. Clinical evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+4
CautionAsia · Herb · № 754
Sharp-leaf galangal fruit (yi zhi ren)
Alpinia oxyphylla
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang and holds in urine and semen; warms the spleen in diarrhoea and drooling.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 780
Alum (ming fan)
Alumen (kaliumaluminiumsulfaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: externally astringent and anti-itch; stanches bleeding.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 743
Sweetgum fruit (lu lu tong)
Liquidambar formosana
Traditionally attributed effects: lets qi and blood flow and opens the meridians.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 158
American skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora (en S. baicalensis)
Used in Western herbalism for nervousness, tension and sleep problems. A few small studies suggest a mild calming effect.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 160
American ginseng
Panax quinquefolius
Chinese medicine regards it as more 'cooling' than Asian ginseng and uses it for fatigue and thirst. Some studies find a slight effect on post-meal blood sugar and colds; evidence is limited.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 628
North American wild ginger
Asarum caudatum, A. canadense en verwante soorten
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold, opens a blocked nose, warms the lung in cough with clear phlegm and expels cold and dampness in menstrual pain and other pain.
Haudenosaunee medicine+4
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 932
American basswood
Tilia americana
A large broadleaf tree with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers, related to the European lime. The flowers contain mucilage and flavonoids. The wood is soft and easy to carve; the inner bark gives strong fibre.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 593
Skunk cabbage
Lysichiton americanus
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the nerves, stimulating, antispasmodic, induces sweating, expectorant; opens the lungs and reduces cough and bronchial spasms (acute asthma), ointment against ringworm, relieves muscle and joint pain.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+2
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 951
American spikenard
Aralia racemosa
A tall perennial of the ivy family, related to ginseng, with a thick, aromatic root. Little studied.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 678
Amur cork tree bark (huang bai)
Phellodendron amurense
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat from the lower body and cools heat from kidney yin deficiency.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 670
Anemarrhena (zhi mu)
Anemarrhena asphodeloides
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in lungs and stomach and nourishes yin in fever, thirst and night sweats.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionEurope · Herb · № 197
Carnation
Dianthus spp.
The clove pink has fragrant, edible petals. In Chinese medicine the related Dianthus superbus (qu mai) is used for bladder infections; no medicinal effect is described for the garden carnation.
Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 422
Worm killer
Aristolochia bracteata
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, promotes menstruation, cleansing, antipyretic, expels worms; strengthens contractions, for colic, absent or painful menstruation, intermittent fever, worms, skin diseases.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 562
Arjuna
Terminalia arjuna
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, astringent, dissolves stones, diuretic; for heart disease (angina, heart failure, pericarditis), high blood pressure, bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, sprue, bile complaints, oedema, cirrhosis of the liver; antidote.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 569
Little ironweed
Vernonia cinerea
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, induces sweating, cleansing; decoction promotes sweating in fever; seeds antidote, expel worms, for leprosy and chronic skin diseases; plant for bladder cramps, difficult urination, haemorrhoids; flowers for conjunctivitis.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 550
Ashoka tree
Saraca indica
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly astringent, calms the uterus; for uterine disorders, especially heavy menstruation, internal bleeding, haemorrhoids, bloody dysentery; root aphrodisiac and tonic, for cough, asthma, rheumatism, skin diseases, indigestion.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 17
Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
An Ayurvedic medicinal plant. Some preparations have been studied for stress and sleep, but evidence is limited and products vary.
Ayurveda+2
CautionEurope · Food · № 65
Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis en A. racemosus
A nutritious vegetable; root and shoots were traditionally used as a diuretic. There is no good evidence for a medicinal effect.
Greco-Roman medicine+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 149
Astragalus (huang qi)
Astragalus membranaceus
In Chinese medicine an important strengthening herb ('qi tonic') for fatigue, catching colds easily and sweating. NCCIH notes there is little reliable human research.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 757
Flattened milkvetch seed (sha yuan zi)
Astragalus complanatus
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, holds in the essence and strengthens the eyesight.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Food · № 166
Avocado
Persea americana
A fruit rich in monounsaturated fats, fibre and potassium; it fits a diet that is favourable for cholesterol. Avocado oil is used in skin care.
Maya healing knowledge+4Folklore
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 492
Ayapana
Eupatorium triplinerve
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, tonic, stimulates the heart, induces sweating, stops bleeding; bitter tonic for indigestion, cough and fever, against scurvy; cleanses foul ulcers.
Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 36
Asian ginseng
Panax ginseng (ook P. quinquefolius)
Research consists mostly of small, short studies; there is little evidence of health effects.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionEurope · Other · № 597
Usnea
Usnea barbata
Traditionally attributed effects: antimicrobial, antifungal, immunomodulating, soothing, laxative, nourishing; against streptococci (sore throat), staphylococci, cellulitis and infected wounds, antiviral (HPV), yeast infections.
Western herbal medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 542
Babchi
Psoralea corylifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms, diuretic, induces sweating, antibacterial; for leprosy and leucoderma (vitiligo) internally and externally, bile complaints.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 398
Babul tree
Acacia nilotica
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, soothing, aphrodisiac, nourishing, expectorant; for cough, diarrhoea and dysentery, sore throat and spongy gums, wounds and skin diseases, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, prolapse of anus and uterus.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+3