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
Africa · Herb · № 433
Yellow bauhinia
Bauhinia tomentosa
Traditionally attributed effects: against dysentery, expels worms; fruit diuretic; seeds tonic and aphrodisiac; for hepatitis, dysentery, tumours and wounds, snake bites.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 1
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Traditionally used for nausea and digestive discomfort; it has a warming flavor.
Ayurveda+6Folklore
Caution
North America · Herb · № 327
Fragrant sumac
Rhus aromatica
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, antidiabetic, diuretic.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
Caution
North America · Herb · № 274
American cranesbill
Geranium maculatum
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stops bleeding, tonic.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 88
Self-heal
Prunella vulgaris
In Europe an old wound herb and gargle for sore throats; in Chinese medicine used for 'heat' and swollen glands. Research is mostly laboratory work.
Western herbal medicine+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 37
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
There is no conclusive evidence that ginkgo helps any health condition. A modest effect on dementia symptoms is possible, but results are inconsistent.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 668
Gypsum (shi gao)
Gypsum fibrosum (calciumsulfaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly cooling in high fever with thirst and sweating, lung heat and stomach fire.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
North America · Herb · № 596
Smooth sumac
Rhus glabra
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, cleansing, tonic, wound-healing, antiseptic; strengthens the digestive tract (ulcers, diarrhoea), curbs excessive secretions (urine leakage, night sweats, bleeding), may lower blood sugar, for prolapse.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 315
Glossy privet (nu zhen zi)
Ligustrum lucidum
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, diuretic, stimulates the immune system.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 698
Glauber's salt (mang xiao)
Mirabilitum (natriumsulfaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: softens the stool in constipation from heat and dryness.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 649
Glehnia root (sha shen)
Glehnia littoralis
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishes the lungs and is good for the stomach; for persistent dry cough and to dissolve phlegm.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 637
Goji (Chinese wolfberry)
Lycium barbarum, L. chinense
Traditionally attributed effects: sweet tonic that according to tradition strengthens the yang energy, strength and stamina and supports the hormone system.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 556
East Indian globe thistle
Sphaeranthus indicus
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, tonic, stomachic, stimulating, cleansing; for bile complaints, tumours, worms, skin diseases (purifies the blood), bleeding haemorrhoids, syphilis, urethral discharge, conjunctivitis.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Food · № 343
Pomegranate
Punica granatum
Traditionally attributed effects: root and stem bark astringent and strongly expel tapeworm; flowers and peel astringent and stomachic; juice cooling.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 772
Grass-leaved sweet flag (shi chang pu)
Acorus tatarinowii (syn. A. gramineus)
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the sense orifices, clears the mind and expels dampness and phlegm.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 344
Cardamom
Elettaria cardamomum
Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, pungent, strengthens the heart, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, carminative; for asthma, bronchitis, haemorrhoids, bladder complaints, flatulence, cramps from laxatives, dizziness, indigestion, vomiting.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 713
Large-leaf gentian (qin jiao)
Gentiana macrophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind and dampness in cold and hot joint pain and cools heat from yin deficiency.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 60
Garden angelica
Angelica archangelica
An aromatic bitter traditionally used for bloating, poor appetite and colds. Clinical evidence is limited.
Monastic and folk knowledge+2Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 591
Purple loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, antibiotic, antispasmodic, diuretic, induces sweating, tonic, soothing; for dysentery and bacterial diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's), strengthens kidneys and bladder, for the eyes.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 62
Greater burdock
Arctium lappa
In Europe the root was considered a 'blood-cleansing' herb for skin problems such as eczema and acne; the seed is used in Chinese medicine for sore throats. Clinical evidence is weak.
Western herbal medicine+5
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 736
Great burnet (di yu)
Sanguisorba officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding in the lower abdomen; externally for burns.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 339
Water plantain (ze xie)
Alisma plantago-aquatica (syn. A. orientale)
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, cleanses the liver.
Western herbal medicine+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 144
Guduchi (giloy)
Tinospora cordifolia
In Ayurveda a rejuvenating remedy (rasayana) for fevers and the immune system. Studies are small; it has no proven effect against infections.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 87
Cowslip
Primula veris
The root contains saponins and is traditionally used to loosen phlegm in coughs; the flowers as a calming tea. There is some research on combination cough preparations.
Monastic and folk knowledge+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 505
Gulsakri
Grewia hirsuta
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, diuretic, expectorant, antiviral; fruit for diarrhoea and dysentery, wound healing, heart disease, seminal loss and leucorrhoea.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 506
Gymnema
Gymnema sylvestre
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stomachic, tonic, cooling, diuretic, lowers blood sugar (suppresses sweet taste); for diabetes and sugar in the urine, snake bites, fever, cough, swollen glands.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 139
Haritaki and triphala
Terminalia chebula
Haritaki is used in Ayurveda as a rejuvenating remedy and gentle laxative. Triphala, a blend of three fruits, is the best-known Ayurvedic formula for digestion. Clinical research is limited.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 536
Syrian rue
Peganum harmala
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, antipyretic, stimulating, promotes menstruation; against tapeworm, intermittent fever and chronic malaria, pain-relieving in asthma, colic, jaundice; promotes milk and menstruation; gargle for sore throat; against head lice.
Local African healing traditions+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 82
Motherwort
Leonurus cardiaca
Traditionally used for stress-related palpitations, nervousness and menstrual complaints. Clinical research is scarce.
Western herbal medicine+1
Caution
Europe · Food · № 66
Oats
Avena sativa
Oat flakes provide beta-glucan, a fibre that according to approved health claims can help maintain normal cholesterol. Oatmeal is also used in baths for dry, itchy skin. Its traditional role as a nerve tonic is unproven.
Western herbal medicine+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 59
Marshmallow
Althaea officinalis
Root and leaf are rich in mucilage that forms a soothing layer; used for dry coughs, throat irritation and an irritated stomach. Evidence is modest.
Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 70
Field horsetail
Equisetum arvense
Rich in silica; traditionally used as a diuretic, for urinary infections and for hair, nails and connective tissue. Good clinical evidence is lacking.
Western herbal medicine+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 498
Sacred fig
Ficus religiosa
Traditionally attributed effects: bark cooling, astringent, lowers blood sugar; for gonorrhoea, ulcers, skin diseases, scabies, hiccups, nausea; milky sap with milk aphrodisiac; oil for eczema, leprosy, rheumatism; fruit laxative.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 796
Hematite (dai zhe shi)
Haematitum (ijzeroxide)
Traditionally attributed effects: anchors rising liver yang, makes rebellious qi descend and cools the blood in bleeding.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 765
Tree of heaven (chun pi)
Ailanthus altissima
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat, dries dampness and curbs diarrhoea, discharge and bleeding.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 438
Himalayan birch
Betula utilis
Traditionally attributed effects: antiseptic, carminative; for washing wounds and ulcers, skin diseases, hysteria.
Ayurveda