michaelsharrington (Hridayam)

The Origins of medicinal tea, infusions, decoction and healing properties

Yarrow and Chamomile species have been discovered in preserved tooth matter of the so-called primitive neanderthals going back to nearly 60,000 B.C.E. —way before recorded history. This time period according to the Yuga cycle of India was during the Satya Yuga or highly-enlightened period of mankind.

     In India, about 3300 BCE, Ayurveda or the science of Life system of healing began, which at its heart is a practice of developing a deep sense of awareness of the true Self. This system of healing combines yoga, meditation, herbalism and other factors.

     In Chinese Medicine (known as TCM, another ancient healing system), the oldest known list of medicinal herbs is found. These folk recipes were passed through family lineage as folklore, and more and more empirical data refined these formulas over the centuries. Herbs, woods, animal byproducts, minerals and foods were mixed together-each said to have various attributes which could be put together based on individual needs.

     According to the popular Chinese legend, tea was first discovered in 2737 BC by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung (whose name means ‘divine farmer’) when reputedly he had some tea leaves drop into his pot of water. They began to instantly infuse and add aroma to the water. This became the earliest recorded herbal infusion. 

     Shen Nung was reputed to be a fine herbalist who foraged in the mountains and surrounding regions, hunting down herbs and plants, first testing them on himself and then offering them as  treatment for the various afflictions of the people in the nearby vicinity.

In Egypt, 1200 years later in about 1500 BCE, medical texts with 700 herbal formulas, of various types of advanced knowledge, were found. Herbs noted were Basil, Aloe and Bayberry. This herbal combination would today be recognized as ideal for digestive health. 

     As many know, Greece and Rome were ancient societies that used herbs. In about 500 BCE the Greek doctor and healer Hippocrates, called father of Western Medicine, believed the body became ill through natural causes, not through the generally recognized superstition that disease came through a curse from the gods. Hippocrates spent time in prison for going against the general consensus at the time. 

     And in 1948, the American Medical Association adopted the Hippocratic oath, ”first do know harm” which for decades was recited by newly ordained Medical doctors, until it was later modified and other ethical treatise were added as well.  The use of this emblematic statement at Medical Schools graduations is ironic since medical error is still the 3rd leading cause of death, mainly through drug reaction and botched surgeries which kill 250,000 a year and maim or harm over 2 million annually.

     Holistic practitioners all around the world often take up another Hippocrates dictum: 

     ”Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” which has become a guiding phrase of naturopathic medicine. 

     Hippocrates was also the discover of willow bark for fevers and pain. This bark is now famous for being the basis of the 1897 discovery of the drug aspirin.

     Herbalism thrived in the Europe 500-700 years ago. Herbal books, written in Latin and Greek, were translated into English. In the early 1600’s an English herbalist and plant specialist later turned physician named, Nicolas Culpepper, wrote a book of herbal and plant pharmacology.

     In America, women herbalist of the early colonies collected roots and plants and used them in cooking and for healing. 

     Near the turn of the 20th century in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the now well known Harriet Tubman shared her herbal abilities with many runaway slaves, in order to aid in their survival. 

Then major changes took place. In 1910, the Flexnor Report, commissioned by billionaire John D. Rockefeller, recognized as the world’s most wealthy man of the day, escalated an attack against alternative and naturopathic therapies.

     To understand what happened at that time, Rockefeller had a monopoly on the petroleum, chemical, and medical industries. He then acquired the IG Farben German drug company, with insidious ties to Nazism, and started using his petroleum products as ingredients in chemical-based drugs and medicines. Rockefeller than used his money and political clout to outlaw natural healing methods in all medical schools of the day. Holistic practices were replaced by drug therapies, paving the way for the modern pharmaceutical and allopathic medical monopoly that continues today. 

Finding Quality supplements

It is tricky to find a high-quality herbs today unless you forage and wild-craft your own-which has always been the best way. Yet wildcrafting requires a lot of experience and access to the pesticide free, medicinal plants, some of which grow only in a few places on earth. Perhaps the best way, for most, is to order wildcrafted herbs online from a reputable company, or a local health food store or herb store.

     Also herbs and supplements and the so-called organic industry have been overtaken by the pharmaceutical companies.  For example, MegaFood is a company that offers, among other things, a ‟whole foods” vitamin supplement. As it turns out, MegaFood is a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Another once solid company was New Chapter but they sold out to Proctor and Gamble–maker of chemicalized products. And Garden of Life, once owned by a naturopath, was sold to Nestle, the sugary poison with massive human rights violations.

The most reputable companies at the time of this writing are: Barlowherbal.com, The Synergy Company, Ki Sciences, Sophia Nutrition, Physica Energetics, BioPure, Standard Process, Pure Planet, HerbPharm, SIPS and HealthForce. There are others but one must research carefully to find a trusted source as more and more “once reliable” sources have been sold to pharmacuetical and chemical companies.

     Herbal infusions (or teas) are also known as tisanes. They are created using caffeine free herbs, roots, stems, flowers and spices of medicinal plants. 

     Centuries of folk tradition’s all over the world and empirical evidence gained along with scientific  studies have shown the power of herbal medicine.

Herbal Infusions and Decoctions:

Infusions of medicinal herbs are made up primarily of the leaves, flowers, roots, stems, bark and seeds and fruits of plants. Many medicinal plants release volatile oils are also typically prepared as an infusion.

     Infusion are ideally prepared in glass, ceramic, or bamboo infuser or stainless steel pot. An infusion is made by combining a ratio of herbal material with a set amount of just boiled water. Steeping the material for 5-20 minutes, then straining off the herbal matter and drinking immediately, or stored in the refrigerator short term, for use in the next few days.

     In decoctions, roots, bark, and stems are used. Since they require higher heat and longer immersion then regular infusion, they are called a decoctions.

     A decoction is basically a simmered tea and is the preferred form of preparation for bark, roots, stems and hard seeds. Decoctions are done by bringing the water to a boil, then simmering with a lid on for 20 minutes to an hour. Take off the heat, strain and enjoy. 

     Many herbs can and should be decocted multiple times in order to fully release beneficial substances. 

     Roots should be stored in the refrigerator between decoctions to reduce the chance of contamination. 

Proportions for Herbal Infusions and Decoctions

The old folk method rule for preparation is a general guideline in figuring herbal proportions: 

1 teaspoon of dried, cut and sifted herb, or herbal formula, or 2 tablespoons of fresh herb per 8 ounces of water. 

Some herbalists simply use one handful of an herb or herbal blend to one quart of water. Dosage is usually 2-6 cups per day. 

     A more scientific-like method involves weight. It is said that 5 grams of herb per 1 cup of water, though even this must be modulated based on sensitivity and individual need. Generally a child dosage is modified based on their weight. If you have a 50 pound child, (an average adult is say 150) you would use one third the adult dosage. 

In the next blog, the first one of this Herbal Healing Series, I will highlight the powerful plant: Cistus Incanus.