How to prepare your herbs

So you've got herbs!

But you have questions: How to prepare them? How to store them? How long to take them? Can you mix them?

Then this section is for you! Because we want to make sure you're equipped with the resources you need to make the most of these plant allies as you take the steps to becoming your own healer.

INFUSION VS. DECOCTION

You want to begin by understanding the difference between an infusion versus decoction.

And while both methods are commonly used to extract the medicinal and nutritional properties of herbs, they have some distinct differences that are worth exploring.

HERBAL INFUSIONS

An herbal infusion is the most common method for making tea. It involves steeping herbs in hot water to extract their flavors and beneficial properties.

Infusions are typically made from delicate plant parts such as leaves, flowers, and stems (guayusa, soursop, chamomile, etc). They're generally steeped in hot water for up to 15 minutes. But because you are working with plant allies from the Amazon and Andean region, you're going to give them extra TLC when preparing them.

OUR HERBS:
- Guayusa
- Scales of Balance
- One Way Out
- Sacred Sacral

PREPARING YOUR HERBAL INFUSION:

Simply place your herbs in a tea infuser or strainer, pour boiling water over them, and allow them to steep for 30-45 minutes.
After steeping, remove the herbs, give gratitude and cheers to health.

HERBAL DECOCTIONS

On the other hand, herbal decoctions are a more concentrated and potent form of herbal tea.

Decoctions are made by simmering tougher plant parts such as roots, bark, and seeds (cat's claw, chuchuhuasi, valerian, etc.) in water for a longer period of time.

This prolonged heating allows the plant materials to release their beneficial compounds into the water.

OUR HERBS FOR THIS PROCESS:
- Chuhcuhuasi
- Cat's Claw
- Valerian
- Bowel Banisher Blend
- River of Life Blend
- Zapped In Blend

PREPARING YOUR HERBAL DIFFUSIONS:

In a pot bring water and herbs to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to lower, cover with a lid and let it simmer for 45 minutes.
After simmering, strain the herbs, give gratitude and feel the healing.

MIXING HERBS:

You can defiantly make your own herbal blends using herbs you have on hand.

If you're going to be mixing barks/roots with leaves/flowers you want to try and prepare them with respect to their nature.

HOW TO PREPARE A BLEND OF ROOTS/BARKS + LEAVES/FLOWERS:

In a pot, bring water and root/bark to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid and let it simmer for 45-60 minutes.
After simmering, turn heat off and add in leaves/flowers. Steep for 15 minutes (the longer the better), strain the herbs and enjoy your electric blend.

HOW LONG CAN YOU TAKE HERBS?

That's another great question and the short answer is it depends. Here's why:

Say you're low on energy and have bought our Guayusa or Zapped In blend to power you in the mornings, you can conceivably enjoy 2 cups a day whenever you need that extra boost with no restrictions.

But say you're looking to address an ailment, let's say it's digestive issues, one great place to start is consuming 8-16 oz every other day for three weeks. Herbs, especially barks, are potent and will do what they're intended to do-- cleanse and renew.

WHAT WE RECOMMEND:

DAILY - NO RESTRICTIONS
- Sacred Sacral Blend
- Zapped In Blend
- One Way Out Blend
- Scales of Balance Blend
- Guayusa
- Chuchuhuasi
- Valerian

DAILY - UP TO 3 WEEKS
- Cat's Claw
- Bowel Banisher
- One Way Out

STORING YOUR HERBS

Oxygen will degrade herbs over time, so storing your herbs in a glass jar or food-safe bag kept in a cool dark area is best.

We want to emphasis keeping them in a dark area because light can cause compounds to break down, leading to a loss of flavor and aroma.

Oxidation can also cause deterioration of color, flavor, and nutritional content.

Taking these precautions may also extend their shelf life.

We personally like to keep them in mason jars and when we no longer have room we just keep them in the same bags your herbal teas arrived in.

CAN I REUSE MY HERBS?

Don't throw away those barks, roots, and stems! Because they can be reused up to 2-3 times-- getting the most of your herbs.

After their initial use, allow them to dry to prevent mold growth. Then store them in a airtight container or sealed bag and pop them in the freezer until next time.

We hope this helped you! Feel free to reach out with any questions.

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