Decoctions

A decoction is a liquid preparation that is made by boiling herb material with water. The object of a decoction is to extract the constituents contained within the tough, fibrous cell walls of roots, barks and seeds. Decoctions are inappropriate for herbs that contain high amounts of volatile or heat-sensitive constituents such as essential oils, as these will be lost during the decoction process. Decoctions can be strong or weak, dependent upon the amount of herb, the amount of water used as a solvent, the intensity of heat, and how long the preparation is allowed to decoct. Thus there are several methods of decoction and accordingly different dosages used. Like infusions, decoctions can be used both internally and topically.

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