A few years ago I had the opportunity to attend a seminar of 3 days and two nights with American herbalist Susun Weed.This woman is a powerhouse of knowledge on many subjects surrounding women's health. Susun believes in empowering women to take care of their needs. She is a strongly outspoken and deeply passionate about the use of herbs and how we should be using them.
In her mid 70's she has so much energy and has such clear smooth skin. She attributes this to Nourishing Herbal Infusions as well as striving to include joy into her life. I came away from the seminar with a keen desire to make and take nourishing herbal Infusions.
Nourishing herbal infusions are a great way of getting minerals from your herbs. Keep reading for our recipe below!
Using dried herbs is best, as they are already halfway to having their cell walls broken down. Then soaking them in hot water further breaks down the cell walls making the nutrients that are normally locked in the cells more available. You can also pair fresh herbs to make fresh kombucha.
Why Nourishing Herbal Infusions And Not A Tea?
Herb tea, while being useful to deliver a herb's healing properties, fails to deliver the mineral richness locked into many common herbs. A cup of nettle tea, for instance, contains only 5-10 mg of calcium. On the other hand, a cup of nettle infusion contains up to 500 mg of calcium. For optimum nutrition, drink nourishing herbal infusions every day.
Only use safe herbs for nourishing herbal infusions, herbs that can be taken everyday like a food. Here is a list of some of the herbs that are generally safe to take as a nourishing herbal infusion. If you are on any medications please check with your healthcare provider.
You could, but by taking one herb at a time gives you the opportunity to notice the reactions in your body. Taking one herb for approximately 3 weeks can give you a chance to notice any improvements in your well being, before trying a different herb.
Once you have got to know each herb you can swap them around throughout the week. For example I always feel very nervous a couple of days before doing a talk. So I make myself oatstraw infusions to drink the day before and the day of my talk to help me to relax.
What If You Don’t Like The Taste?
I find the infusions taste fine as they are, but you can add a little honey, stevia or other sweetener to your taste. You can add a pinch of mint or lemon balm too for extra flavour. You can also mix it with miso paste, or a little salt, seaweed or whatever you like. You can drink your infusion hot or cold.
What Is The Best Time To Make The Infusion?
I make my herbal infusion at night before bed I leave it to infuse on the bench.
The next morning I strain it into a glass bottle. I store it in the fridge and drink the whole amount throughout the day. Straight from the bottle.
How Long Does It Keep?
The herb infusion should be strained after no more than 12 hours or it gets a disagreeable taste. Once strained the infusion should be used within 36 hours.
My favourite herbs to make into nourishing herbal infusions:
Excellent source of phytosterols (Phytosterols are hormone-like substances found in many plants that can be bio-converted in the human gut into active anti-cancer estrogens and other helpful anti-stress hormones.)
