Herbs & Cultures

From plant to use

Decoction

Simmering roots, bark and seeds so they release their flavour and compounds.

Herbs prepared this way (466)

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
Asia · Herb · № 760
Cistanche (rou cong rong)
Cistanche deserticola
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, moistens the bowel and warms the uterus.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 777
Cnidium seed (she chuang zi)
Cnidium monnieri
Traditionally attributed effects: externally for itching and fungus around the genitals; internally a kidney yang tonic.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 639
Codonopsis (dang shen)
Codonopsis pilosula
Traditionally attributed effects: reduces fatigue, supports the production of blood cells and strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
South America · Herb · № 984
Cojamba
Helosis cayennensis
A plant without chlorophyll that parasitises the roots of trees and shrubs (family Balanophoraceae). It looks like a young mushroom, until the 'cap' turns out to be a reddish-brown spike full of tiny flowers. Its action has hardly been studied.
Tukano medicine
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 147
Caterpillar fungus (cordyceps)
Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis)
A fungus that parasitises caterpillars. Used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine for fatigue, lung complaints and low libido. Studies are small and there is no convincing evidence.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 731
Costus root (mu xiang)
Dolomiaea costus (syn. Saussurea lappa, Aucklandia lappa)
Traditionally attributed effects: moves the qi in spleen, stomach, intestine, liver and gallbladder; helps digest tonics.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 473
Croton
Croton oblongifolius
Traditionally attributed effects: bark and root cleansing and promote bile; seeds laxative; bark for sprains and liver diseases, poultices on swellings, for snake bites.
Ayurveda
Caution
South America · Herb · № 856
Culén
Grimolobium glandulosum (syn. Otholobium glandulosum, Psoralea glandulosa)
A shrub of the pea family with glandular, fragrant leaves. Traditionally used for digestive complaints, diarrhoea and on wounds; good research is lacking.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 759
Cynomorium (suo yang)
Cynomorium songaricum
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, nourishes the blood and moistens the bowel.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 659
Dahurian angelica (bai zhi)
Angelica dahurica
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold, opens the nose and relieves headache and toothache; helps drain pus.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 430
Danti
Baliospermum montanum
Traditionally attributed effects: seeds strongly laxative, externally stimulating and skin-irritant; root for oedema and jaundice, leaves for asthma, oil for rheumatism, antiseptic, for snake bites.
Ayurveda
Caution
North America · Herb · № 189
Pine
Pinus spp.
The scent of needles and resin is experienced as fresh and cleansing. Pine buds and needles contain essential oil and vitamin C; a medicinal effect has hardly been studied.
Haudenosaunee medicine+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 761
Dendrobium (shi hu)
Dendrobium nobile (en verwante soorten)
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishes the yin of lung and stomach, replenishes body fluids and cools heat from deficiency.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Other · № 744
Dragon's blood (xue jie)
Daemonorops draco (ook Dracaena cochinchinensis)
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding, resolves blood stagnation and promotes wound healing.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 756
Drynaria (gu sui bu)
Drynaria roosii (syn. D. fortunei)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, lets the blood flow and helps fractures and tendon injuries heal.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 409
Dita bark
Alstonia scholaris
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, bitter tonic, astringent, expectorant, fever-reducing, antipyretic; quinine substitute for intermittent fever, for indigestion, weakness, skin diseases, liver complaints, chronic diarrhoea; promotes milk flow, expels worms.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 394
Devil's cotton
Abroma augusta
Traditionally attributed effects: leaves and stem soothing, root bark promotes menstruation; for painful menstruation, regulates menstruation, uterine tonic, for gonorrhoea; can cause skin irritation.
Ayurveda
Caution
North America · Herb · № 966
Devil's club
Oplopanax horridus
An ivy-like shrub with large, hand-shaped leaves and spines over the whole stem and the leaf veins. Research into a blood-sugar-lowering effect is at an early stage.
Kwakwaka'wakw medicine
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 56
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Traditionally used to stop bleeding from minor wounds, for fevers and colds, and as a digestive bitter. Clinical evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+6Folklore
Caution
North America · Herb · № 14
Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea
Studied for colds and respiratory infections. It may slightly reduce the chance of catching a cold; effects on duration and other conditions are uncertain.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+5Folklore
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 701
Umbrella polypore (zhu ling)
Polyporus umbellatus
Traditionally attributed effects: drains fluid via the urine in oedema and difficult urination.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 585
Horny goat weed
Epimedium grandiflorum
Traditionally attributed effects: aphrodisiac, diuretic, tonic; increases libido, helps with erectile problems and fertility, strengthens the bladder sphincter and kidney function.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 662
Elsholtzia (xiang ru)
Elsholtzia splendens
Traditionally attributed effects: for summer colds from cold and dampness, and for oedema.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 675
Swallow-wort root (bai wei)
Cynanchum atratum
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in fever from deficiency, including after childbirth, and in painful urination.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 820
Estafiate (white sagebrush)
Artemisia ludoviciana
A bitter, aromatic herb used in Mexico for stomach ache and digestive complaints.
Curanderismo+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 751
Eucommia bark (du zhong)
Eucommia ulmoides
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, tendons and bones; calms rising liver yang and a restless foetus.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 336
Evodia fruit (wu zhu yu)
Tetradium ruticarpum (syn. Evodia rutaecarpa)
Traditionally attributed effects: pain-relieving, antibacterial, warming, stimulating.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 118
Fenugreek
Trigonella foenum-graecum
The seed has been studied for blood sugar and for increasing breast milk. NCCIH reports there is not enough strong evidence for these uses.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+5Folklore
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 462
Velvet leaf
Cissampelos pareira
Traditionally attributed effects: mildly stomachic, bitter tonic, diuretic, dissolves stones, astringent; for intestinal complaints, indigestion, diarrhoea, prolapsed uterus, internal inflammation, urinary tract diseases, purifies the blood in skin diseases.
Herbal knowledge of the Caribbean+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 119
Galangal
Alpinia galanga
A relative of ginger traditionally used for nausea, wind and sluggish digestion. Clinical evidence is limited.
Ayurveda+6
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 200
Gardenia (zhi zi)
Gardenia jasminoides
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, calming, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, promotes bile.
Chinese medical traditions+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 774
Gastrodia (tian ma)
Gastrodia elata
Traditionally attributed effects: calms liver wind and relieves headache, dizziness and cramps.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 692
Barbat skullcap (ban zhi lian)
Scutellaria barbata
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood, moves blood stagnation and reduces swellings; for hepatitis.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Other · № 789
Medicated leaven (shen qu)
Massa medicata fermentata
Traditionally attributed effects: helps with food stagnation and poor digestion.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 104
Guelder rose
Viburnum opulus en V. prunifolium
The bark is traditionally used for muscle cramps and period pain; its English name is cramp bark. Clinical evidence is lacking.
Western herbal medicine+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 76
Great yellow gentian
Gentiana lutea
The root is one of the most bitter substances known and has long been used to stimulate appetite and digestion. Studies are small.
Greco-Roman medicine+1