CautionAsia · Herb · № 745
Sappan wood (su mu)
Biancaea sappan (syn. Caesalpinia sappan)
Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow in menstrual pain and injury.
Chinese medical traditions+1
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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 719
Sargassum (hai zao)
Sargassum pallidum (en S. fusiforme)
Traditionally attributed effects: softens hardenings from phlegm-fire such as goitre and swollen glands; drains fluid.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 633
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind, dampness and cold in joint complaints, also when heat is involved, moves the blood in stasis after trauma or in absent menstruation, and is used for itchy skin.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
CautionAsia · Herb · № 666
Scouring rush (mu zei)
Equisetum hyemale
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat around the eyes, stops bleeding and is diuretic.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionEurope · Herb · № 91
White willow
Salix alba
The bark contains salicin, which the body partly converts to salicylic acid. There are hints of a moderate effect on low back pain and joint pain.
Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 592
Schisandra
Schisandra chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, astringent, stimulating, adaptogen; supports exhausted adrenals (fatigue), promotes sleep and well-being, protects the liver.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 657
Schizonepeta (jing jie)
Schizonepeta tenuifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in colds (warm or cool, depending on the combination), helps rashes come out and, charred, stops bleeding.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 507
East Indian screw tree
Helicteres isora
Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, soothing, mildly astringent, stomachic; for colic, flatulence, diarrhoea, chronic dysentery, diabetes, ear infection, snake bites.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 470
Sebesten plum
Cordia myxa
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit soothing, expectorant, diuretic, mildly laxative; bark mildly astringent and tonic; for cough and chest diseases, bile complaints, abdominal cramps, indigestion, fever, ulcers, snake bites.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 117
Senna
Senna alexandrina
Leaves and pods contain sennosides, a stimulant laxative that works for short-term constipation. It is used in modern over-the-counter laxatives.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+5
CautionAfrica · Food · № 356
Sesame
Sesamum indicum
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, softens the skin, diuretic, promotes menstruation and milk flow, laxative; leaves for respiratory complaints, diarrhoea and dysentery in children, bladder catarrh; seeds for bleeding haemorrhoids, absent or painful menstruation.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+3Folklore
CautionNorth America · Food · № 935
Shagbark hickory
Carya ovata
A nut tree of the walnut family, with bark that peels away in long strips. The nuts are rich and sweet.
Haudenosaunee medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 494
Shankhpushpi
Evolvulus alsinoides
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, cleansing, fever-reducing, expels worms, anti-inflammatory; for fever, nervous weakness, memory loss, dysentery, diarrhoea and indigestion (with tulsi), chronic bronchitis and asthma.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 122
Shatavari
Asparagus racemosus
In Ayurveda an important rejuvenating remedy for women, used for breastfeeding and stomach complaints. Studies are small and of variable quality.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 145
Shiitake
Lentinula edodes
An edible mushroom. Lentinan from shiitake is researched and used in oncology in Japan; there is little evidence for ordinary shiitake as an 'immune booster'.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 367
Siberian ginseng
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Traditionally attributed effects: adaptogen, increases interferon production; especially for herpes simplex, strengthens the immune system against colds and flu; further for high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, insomnia, arthritis.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 749
Siberian Solomon's seal (huang jing)
Polygonatum sibiricum
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens spleen and kidneys, moistens the lungs and replenishes the essence.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 644
Szechuan lovage (chuan xiong)
Ligusticum chuanxiong (syn. L. striatum)
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes circulation, helps with menstrual complaints and as a restorative tonic after childbirth, and is said to lower high blood pressure; warming.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 313
Dwarf lilyturf (mai men dong)
Ophiopogon japonicus
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes the secretion of body fluids, tonic, calming, cough-suppressing, lowers blood sugar, antibacterial.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 295
Fringe tree
Chionanthus virginicus
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes bile, stimulates the liver, tonic, diuretic.
Eclectic medicine+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 680
Sophora root (ku shen)
Sophora flavescens
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat in itchy skin, discharge and dysentery; externally as a wash.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 742
Spatholobus stem (ji xue teng)
Spatholobus suberectus (syn. Millettia reticulata)
Traditionally attributed effects: both moves and nourishes the blood; for weakness, numbness and painful joints.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Herb · № 577
Alder buckthorn
Frangula alnus
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, laxative, antiparasitic, bitter; mild laxative without cramps, stops bleeding and helps with warts, mouthwash for gum problems, hair rinse for scalp irritation.
Western herbal medicine
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 794
Stalactite (e guan shi)
Stalactitum (calciumcarbonaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: makes lung energy descend in asthma and chronic bronchitis and promotes milk flow.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 538
Bhumyamalaki
Phyllanthus fraternus
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, astringent, cooling, laxative, bitter tonic; for oedema, gonorrhoea, urogenital diseases, jaundice, constipation, stomach ache, indigestion, dysentery, mild intermittent fever, heavy menstruation.
Ayurveda
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 953
Stoneroot
Collinsonia canadensis
A perennial of the mint family with lemon-scented leaves and a very hard, knobbly root. Eclectic physicians used it for piles and varicose veins; research is lacking.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 168
Northern prickly ash
Zanthoxylum americanum
Bark and berries give a tingling, numbing feeling in the mouth; they were traditionally used for toothache, poor circulation and rheumatism. Clinical research is lacking.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
CautionAsia · Herb · № 676
Stellaria root (yin chai hu)
Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat from yin deficiency, fever after an illness and heat in malnourished children.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 724
Stemona root (bai bu)
Stemona sessilifolia (en S. japonica)
Traditionally attributed effects: moistens the lungs in acute and chronic cough; externally against lice and fleas.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 709
Stephania root (han fang ji)
Stephania tetrandra
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic in oedema (especially of the legs) and pain-relieving in hot, swollen joints.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 456
Sickle senna
Cassia tora
Traditionally attributed effects: mildly laxative, cleansing; intestinal complaints and fever when teething, compress for gout, sciatica and joint pain; seeds for ringworm, scabies and eczema; root for snake bites.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 534
Skunkvine
Paederia foetida
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic; for urinary retention, bladder stones, haemorrhoids, inflamed spleen, diarrhoea in children, rheumatism and stiff joints, abdomen bloated by gas.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 664
Beach vitex fruit (man jing zi)
Vitex rotundifolia (syn. V. trifolia)
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat in headache and eye pain, and relieves cramps and heaviness in the limbs.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 164
Suma
Hebanthe eriantha (syn. Pfaffia paniculata)
Sold as 'Brazilian ginseng' and an adaptogen for fatigue. There is hardly any human research.
Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 702
Talc (hua shi)
Talcum (hydromagnesiumsilicaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling and soothing in painful urination and summer heat; externally drying on weeping skin.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 512
Talmakhana
Hygrophila auriculata
Traditionally attributed effects: root cooling, bitter tonic, diuretic, soothing; seeds diuretic and aphrodisiac; for oedema, kidney stones and urogenital complaints, jaundice, impotence and weakness, asthma.
Ayurveda