Infusion is one of the more confusing terms in the world of herbal medicine. A Nourishing Infusion is an herbal preparation where one ounce of nourishing herb (like nettle or oatstraw) is allowed to steep in boiled water for at least 4 hours.
These nourishing herbs are very much like food for our bodies. They are high in vitamins and minerals and are a wonderful way to get these nutrients into our bodies. When we drink them as an infusion our bodies are much more able to assimilate them than when they are taken in pill form.
Consider nourishing infusions to be your multi-vitamin in a jar.
Infusions made with water as their base have a pretty short shelf life and you should generally drink them the same day you make them although they can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
- 1 ounce of dried cut herb
- 1 quart of water
- 1 quart mason jar or French Press
Weigh out one ounce of dried herb and put it into your quart jar. Using dried plant material is very important, since drying the plant breaks down the cell wall which allows the nutrients to move from the plant material into the water.
Pour boiling water over the herbs to fill the jar
Stir so that all of the plant material is covered by water.
Cap the jar and allow it to steep for at least four hours. Strain and drink. You can drink this infusion at room temperature or heat it or chill it. You can also add honey or milk or cream or mix the infusion with juice or another tea like peppermint. Experiment to see what you like best.
Here is an infusion recipe that I use daily. It is a great female tonic since it contains herbs that provide calcium (critical for women over age 35) and balance hormones.
- 1 Tblsp red raspberry leaves
- 1 Tblsp peppermint
- 1 Tblsp oat straw
- 1 Tblsp calandula
- 1 Tblsp nettle
I place these herbs in my french press, cover with hot water, and replace the lid before I go to bed at night. The next morning I have a wonderful nourishing infusion waiting for me to enjoy throughout the day.
It’s better to drink infusions throughout the day than to drink it all at once so you can benefit from the nutrients all day long.
If you want to learn more about herbs and their uses, you’ll notice on the right side bar two links for a “Free Herbal Course”. Click on either (or both) of these links and you’ll be taken to Learning Herbs, a great web site for gaining herbal knowledge. I’ve taken both of the free classes and LOVED them! I’m sure you’ll find some useful information in the free course.
Wondering where to purchase quality dried herbs? Well, if you’re local, I buy mine from Bountiful Nutrition. You can also order them from Butterfly Express (.net) or on the right side bar you’ll also notice a link for Mountain Rose Herbs. I can recommend all three sources.
This post has been shared with: 
and Pennywise Platter at the Nourishing Gourmet.
