Herb Decoction

Use one formula bag at a time. 

One formula bag will give you 4 doses to be taken twice over two days.

Sometimes the herbs will be given loose rather than a bag but the process is the same.

Place the herbs or bag of herbs in a stainless steel saucepan, add 1 litre of tepid water and leave the herbs to soak the overnight in the water.  Keep the lid on. Do not use an aluminium saucepan. 

In the morning, bring the herbs to a boil and then simmer with the lid on the pan for around 25 minutes or so until 450ml remain.

Strain the herbs, remove the bag (do not discard) and set the fluid to one side in a glass jug or bowl. 

Repeat the process exactly as above using the same herbs or bag but add a further 700ml of fresh water and simmer for another 20 minutes or so until around 350ml remains.

Strain and mix the two lots of fluid from the two boils. 

You can now throw the herbs from this decoction process away.

Drink a cup 200ml twice daily before eating, on an empty stomach. 

Keep the remaining fluid (cooled) in the fridge overnight and gently reheat before using in the evening and next day. 

Decoctions should be taken warm or at room temperature rather than straight out of the fridge. 

It would be better not to use a microwave. re-heat on your stove.

Do not take the herb decoction if you get an acute infection e.g. a cold/flu or chest infection, this applies to anyone who was given a formula for a chronic (long-standing) complaint.  Wait until you feel better and then resume the decoction as directed. Always check in with your practitioner first if in doubt.

Ladies - please halt taking the herbs during your monthly cycle unless you have been told otherwise.

If you experience any problem when taking the herbal medicine, please contact your practitioner. 

Herbal medicines often taste bitter and may take getting used to but generally, after a while, the taste seems less ‘unusual’!

As the old proverb goes... what tastes bitter makes you better.