How to Prepare an Herbal Tea Infusion

An herbal tea infusion is one of the most common methods for preparing herbal remedies. An herbal infusion is a hot-water extract prepared from the leaves, flowers and stems of medicinal herbs, notes Michael Castleman in his book "The Healing Herbs." As an herbal remedy, it can be drunk as a medicinal tea, or used as a therapeutic wash, soak, poultice or compress.

Things You'll Need

• 1 oz. dried herb (25g)
• 1 quart water
• Saucepan
• Tea infuser (optional)
• Tea strainer or muslin cloth
• Honey or stevia (optional)

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Instructions

• 1

  Double the amount of herbs if you use fresh instead of dried herbs.

  Measure out 1 oz. of the dried herb of your choice into a warmed teapot or pitcher. If you are using fresh herbs, then measure out double the amount, recommends Joyce A. Wardwell in "The Home Herbal Remedy Book."

• 2

  Use a glass, enamel or clay utensil to brew your herbal tea infusion in.

  Bring the water to a boil in the saucepan or kettle, and then pour it over the herbs. Cover and let the herbs steep for 10 to 20 minutes.

• 3

  Use a tea strainer or muslin cloth to strain your tea infusion.

  Strain the herbal infusion with a tea strainer or muslin cloth and discard the herb material. This formulation yields about three cups of herbal tea.

• 4

  Sweeten your herbal infusion with a natural sweetener such as honey or stevia if desired. Alternatively, blend the tea with fruit juice or lemon.

• 5

  Sip on one to three cups of herbal tea a day. Wardwell recommends sipping small, frequent cups of your herbal tea infusion all day long rather than gulping down each batch.

• 6

  Keep in mind that herbal infusions do not have a long shelf life, so you should brew the tea as needed and refrigerate any leftover amount.