Infusions 101
Photo by Dr. Brittany Wolfe
The topic of infusions has become trendy recently with many racing off to the stores looking for dry herbs to improve their mood, their skin and their pre-existing medical conditions. Despite the recent surge in infusion interest, it has long been one of the most useful, attainable and efficacious way to extract medicine from our plant friends.And while infusions are a powerful medicine, it is important that you understand the safety, traditional use and sustainability of herbs before you begin using them. As always, seek care from your naturopathic doctor regarding your specific case. In the mean time, you can meet your medicine below.
Infusions can be used for:
general wellbeing
for detoxification
for menstrual support
to nourish an over-stressed nervous system
for acute colds and flus
for skin health
to help in injury recovery
pregnancy and post-partum
and the list goes on and on.
Some of the most commonly infused herbs are:
Urtica dioca folia (nettle tops)- Ringleader of the infusions, I would say. And for good reason, too. Nettle leaves pack a lot of punch for a single herb; they are deeply nutritious with lots of minerals and vitamins, are wonderful for allergies and also offer our adrenals a soft boost. As for the taste, it is often well-tolerated. To me, it tastes like deep earth, rich in flavour and colour. It mixes well with other herbs which also makes it a good herb friend to have on the shelves.
Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice)- Perhaps the second most-reached for herb on the shelf: Licorice. The mantra of herb-lovers trying to learn botanical medicine is this: If you just learn one herb really well, let it be licorice. This is because it can truly do so many things. Licorice can soothe the digestive tract, soothe the lungs, support the adrenals...and the list goes on...and on...and on. It also tastes sweet and makes a lovely addition to most infusions.
Rubus ideaus folia (red raspberry leaf)- Tart-tasting and offering a beautiful jewel-toned colour to the infusion, red raspberry is a tonifying or nurturing herb. It is often used for women's health as it has an affinity to the uterus in times of blood loss (heavy periods or post-labour).
Ocinum sativum (holy basil or tulsi) - A lovely nervine that soothes stress and adds a peppery-basil kick to infusions.
Schisandra chinenesis (schisandra) - Schisandra berries have their roots in traditional Chinese medicine. They are beautiful, deep ruby red berries, tart to taste buds and a loving friend to the liver. Schisandra balances out the phases of liver detoxification and this is a very important job. If our phase 1 is running faster than our phase 2, we can feel really crummy as reactive oxygen species build up in our system. It is also known to tonify yin (our feminine soothing counterpart to the masculine energy of the yang). Hence, they offer gentle adrenal support. In terms of taste, Schisandra is known as 5-spice-herb because it can taste sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. I like to think that you taste what you need in terms of organ support; for instance, if you taste sour, perhaps your liver needs some support and if you taste salty, perhaps your kidneys or adrenals need some support.
Gandoderma lucidum (reishi) - Mushrooms are powerhouse tonics that support our body's greatest healing capacity through their affinity for the immune system and nervous system. Reishi is a very common choice because it is so nourishing and tastes quite mild.
Matricaria recutitta (chamomile) - Ah, chamomile; the star of sleepy time tea. Indeed, it is a great choice to support the nervous system throughout stressful times. I find it suits a nervous tummy quite well as the volatile oils soothe the gastrointestinal tract along with the nervous system. For full effects, it is important that you have the full flower heads.
Avena sativa - You have two choices when it comes to oats:
The straw - A great connective tissue tonic to help in injuries or general health
The milky oat seed top - Known to nourish depleted nervous systems
Although it is helpful for nervous system restoration, it is not an acute nervine choice. It has its best effects when used for long-term chronic stress. If you are looking for a quicker fix to calm an anxious mind, consider chamomile instead.
Lymphatics
I am a true believer that at least one herb in your concoction should be a lymphatic. These herbs have an affinity for our lymph system and stimulate the movement of lymph throughout the body. They often also offer some mild circulatory support; encouraging the movement of blood as well as lymph. This is important for a few reasons; first, it takes our medicine to where we need it. Second, it moves stagnate lymph and blood (both of which are healing).
Common lymphatics and circulatory stimulants and their affinity (AKA: where they bring the thunder):
Zingiber officinalis (ginger) - abdomen region, making it a great choice for menstrual or digestive woes. Well-known for its anti-nausea powers, ginger root adds some spice to your infusion.
Galium aparine (cleavers) - the urinary system.
Calendula officinalis - breast and pelvis
side note: a wonderful flower to infuse in castor oil (instead of water) and used as a castor oil pack
Iris versicolour (blue flag) - liver and skin
Where to find quality herbs:
Organoleptics is an important part of botanical medicine. It is the practice of using our senses to determine the quality (or vitality) of an herb. When you see an herb, either in fresh or dry form, you should ask yourself the following:
What is the colour?
What does it smell like?
What does it look like? Is it the correct part of the herb for the effect that I desire?
What does it feel like?
Any business selling dried herbs or your naturopathic doctor should offer you a quick whiff and glance at their product, giving you the chance to practice your organoleptics and ensuring that you are purchasing an herb that is healthy, vital and able to nourish you. I personally strongly encourage your participation in herbal preparations in-office. The more you sniff, see, touch, taste the herb, the deeper the healing relationship with that herb becomes.
Mother Earth
Herbs can be endangered (sadly). Be educated about these herbs and research what you could possibly swap them out with in your infusions. Use your money wisely and always acknowledge that you are taking from Mother Earth to nurture yourself. It is up to us to make environmentally-conscious decisions that benefit us AND our plant friends.
Check here for a list of species at risk.
Methods
Once you have your herbs, you only need a tea strainer, boiling water and a mason jar to make your infusion. The time your infusion brews is dependent on your preference and your chosen herbs.
If you have sunny skies, use the power of the sun for your infusions. I love to place my jar of herb and water in the heat of the sun for 5 hours or so until that deep, rich colour appears. It is fun and adds another layer of nature cure to your infusion.
Note: It is very, very important to COVER your infused herbs. Volatile oils (VOs) are an important medicine found in many herbs and they are released in steam. If you let the steam go, you let the medicine go. You can find out if your herb of choice has a VO that you need to be mindful of by looking it up...or...a much more simple trick: sniff it. VO are a less concentrated form of essential oils which means they have a distinct scent.
More tips for you:
Make sure you have the correct part of the herb for your infusion. The best example would be our dear friend chamomile. For the best medicine, you require the whole flower; petals included.
Make sure your chosen herb is actually compatible with a water extraction; most are however depending on the particular action you are trying to achieve, you may need a different extraction method
Note: Infusions can be very powerful medicines. Please check with your health care provider before you begin ANY herbal infusions.
If you curious about how infusions can better your health, feel free to make an appointment with me and together we can create a specific-to-you brew for the late summer season.
Myself and my herb friends cannot wait to meet you!
