CautionAsia · Herb · № 205
Lily
Lilium spp.
The bulb scales of some lilies (bai he) are used in Chinese medicine for dry cough, restlessness and sleeplessness after fever. Lilies are deadly poisonous to cats.
Chinese medical traditions+1Folklore
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 · Food · № 661
Green onion (cong bai)
Allium fistulosum
Traditionally attributed effects: diaphoretic at the start of a cold from cold; externally on swellings.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 732
Lindera root (wu yao)
Lindera aggregata (syn. L. strychnifolia)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms and moves qi in pain from cold; warms the kidneys in frequent urination.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 41
Lingzhi (reishi)
Ganoderma lucidum
A bracket fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine; evidence for treatment effects in people is limited.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 734
Cattail pollen (pu huang)
Typha angustifolia (en T. orientalis)
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding and resolves blood stagnation in pain.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 516
Indian laurel
Litsea glutinosa
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, astringent, softens the skin, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic; for diarrhoea and dysentery; externally for bruises, sprains, rheumatic and gouty joints, scorpion stings, fractures.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 559
Lodh tree
Symplocos racemosa
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, mildly astringent; for intestinal complaints, heavy menstruation, discharge from lax mucous membranes, oedema, liver complaints, fever, skin diseases, bleeding gums, eye diseases, ulcers, filariasis (chyluria, elephantiasis).
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Food · № 653
Longan
Dimocarpus longan
Traditionally attributed effects: a sweet, warming tonic for heart and blood; good for digestion and calming.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Other · № 588
Lungwort lichen
Lobaria pulmonaria
Traditionally attributed effects: antioxidant, expectorant; reduces inflammation in the airways and intestines, supports the lungs and helps with sinusitis.
Western herbal medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 671
Lophatherum (dan zhu ye)
Lophatherum gracile
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in heart and stomach in restlessness, thirst and mouth ulcers, and in painful urination.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Food · № 131
Sacred lotus
Nelumbo nucifera
Almost every part is used: seeds for diarrhoea and restlessness, rhizome as food, leaf for 'summer heat'. Scientific evidence is mostly laboratory research.
Ayurveda+3Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 693
Blackberry lily (she gan)
Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat and detoxifies in severe sore throat and cough with much hot phlegm.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 544
Emetic nut
Randia dumetorum
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit rind induces sweating and antispasmodic; bark calming and soothes the nerves; bark internally and externally for rheumatism, bruises and bone pain in fever, diarrhoea and dysentery; fruit emetic in acute bronchitis and asthma; scorpion stings.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 795
Magnetite (ci shi)
Magnetitum (ijzeroxide)
Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and rising liver yang and helps the kidneys hold the lung energy.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 655
Magnolia flower bud (xin yi hua)
Magnolia biondii (syn. M. liliflora)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms and opens the nose in blocked sinuses and headache from wind-cold.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 727
Magnolia bark (hou po)
Magnolia officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: makes qi descend, dries dampness and resolves food stagnation and phlegm.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 370
Oregon grape
Mahonia aquifolium
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, purifies the blood, tonic, stimulating, supports the liver; improves appetite and digestion, promotes liver and bile secretion, purifies the blood, helps with skin problems, sudden diarrhoea and chronic constipation.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 520
Mahua
Madhuca longifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: flowers cooling, soothing, expectorant, tonic, nourishing; bark astringent and tonic; for diabetes and rheumatism, bleeding gums, tonsil and throat inflammation, itching, bronchitis, cough, haemorrhoids.
Ayurveda
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Food · № 266
Maize
Zea mays
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, heals the urinary tract lining, tonic, soothing.
Maya healing knowledge+7Folklore
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 589
Maitake
Grifola frondosa
Traditionally attributed effects: adaptogen; activates immune cells against cancer (macrophages, NK cells, T cells), reduces stress and strengthens resistance to colds and flu.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 859
Maitén
Maytenus boaria
A graceful tree with drooping twigs and fine leaves that cattle love to eat. Traditionally for fever and skin rash; research is lacking.
Mapuche medicine
CautionAsia · Food · № 730
Tangerine peel (chen pi)
Citrus reticulata
Traditionally attributed effects: the ripe peel (chen pi) moves the qi of spleen and lung and dissolves phlegm; the green peel (qing pi) moves liver qi.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionOceania · Herb · № 273
Manuka and kanuka
Leptospermum scoparium en Kunzea ericoides
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antimicrobial, antiseptic, expels worms (leptospermone); for ulcers, infections and fever.
Rongoā Māori+2
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 851
Maqui
Aristotelia chilensis
A shrub with dark purple berries rich in anthocyanins. The leaf was traditionally used for wounds and sore throats. Health claims for 'superfood' products are unproven.
Mapuche medicine
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 853
Matico
Buddleja globosa
A shrub with orange, ball-shaped flowers. The leaf contains anti-inflammatory compounds such as verbascoside; clinical research on wound healing is lacking.
Mapuche medicine
CautionEurope · Herb · № 47
Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna, C. laevigata (en C. pinnatifida)
Studied for heart failure with conflicting results. For most conditions there is little or no good evidence.
Monastic and folk knowledge+3Folklore
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 420
Mexican prickly poppy
Argemone mexicana
Traditionally attributed effects: root diuretic, cleansing, pain-relieving, sleep-inducing; seeds laxative, emetic, expectorant; for oedema, jaundice, skin diseases, warts, scabies, gonorrhoea, tapeworm, cough and asthma.
Curanderismo+1
CautionAfrica · Other · № 28
Myrrh
Commiphora myrrha
A gum resin with a long history in medicine, ritual, perfume, and incense. Modern treatment claims are not established.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+6Folklore
CautionEurope · Herb · № 96
Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Best known for preventing migraine. NCCIH notes the evidence is conflicting: some studies find a small effect, others do not.
Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
CautionEurope · Herb · № 71
Meadowsweet
Filipendula ulmaria
Contains salicylates. Traditionally used for heartburn, an irritated stomach and joint pain. Clinical research is scarce.
Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 762
Mulberry mistletoe (sang ji sheng)
Taxillus chinensis (syn. Loranthus parasiticus)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, expels wind and dampness, nourishes the blood and calms the foetus.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Food · № 763
Monk fruit (luo han guo)
Siraitia grosvenorii (syn. Momordica grosvenori)
Traditionally attributed effects: moistens and cools the lungs in a dry cough and reduces swollen glands.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 753
Morinda root (ba ji tian)
Morinda officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang and expels wind, cold and dampness from back and legs.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 527
Moringa
Moringa oleifera
Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, stimulating, expectorant, diuretic, dissolves stones; leaves for scurvy and catarrh, flatulence in children, wounds and swellings; bark stimulates the heart in asthma and cough.
Ayurveda+2
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 629
Mormon tea
Ephedra viridis, E. nevadensis, E. californica
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in wind-cold with sneezing and a watery nose, mildly eases wheezing and promotes urination.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Food · № 792
Maltose (yi tang)
Saccharum granorum (maltose)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens qi and spleen, eases pain from cold in the middle and moistens the lungs.
Chinese medical traditions+1