teas and decoctions

Kitchen Pharmacy

  • Ancient and universal tradition.
  • Developed over centuries through observation of common ingredients' effects.
  • Each country had unique remedies, but many plants/treatments were common.
  • Information exchanged by travelers; countries borrowed foods/medicines.
    • Myrrh: Egypt -> Greece/Arabia -> India -> China.
  • Ingredients often given similar classifications by different cultures even without contact.
    • Garlic: universally antiseptic and expectorant.
    • Fennel: aromatic.
    • Cumin: carminative.

Types of Kitchen Pharmacy Products

  • Teas and decoctions.
  • Baths, washes, and soaks.
  • Poultices, rubs, gels, and oils.
  • Gargles and syrups.
  • Food remedies.

General Cautions

  • Always check safety, especially for:
    • Pregnant/lactating women.
    • Infants and children.
    • Individuals taking medications.
    • Those with allergies.
    • Other vulnerable groups.
  • Know your scope of practice; refer when needed.
  • Only use legibly labeled products from the kitchen cupboard.
  • Apply stringent hydrating standards.

Teas and Decoctions

  • Herbal teas can be consumed hot or cold and contribute to fluid intake.
    • Some may have a diuretic effect.
  • Nutritionists should not recommend herbal remedies like tablets, capsules, or fluid extracts.
    • These should only be prescribed by qualified herbalists (e.g., naturopaths).
  • Herbal tea often distinguishes non-caffeinated teas (e.g., ginger, peppermint) from Camilla sinensis (normal/green tea).
  • Water-soluble phytochemicals present in tea:
    • Flavonoids
    • Tannins
    • Essential oils
    • Antioxidants
  • Specific phytochemicals depend on ingredients and plant part used.
  • Naturopaths/nutritionists use herbal teas therapeutically to facilitate healing, health, and hydration.
  • Recommendations depend on the presenting condition; herbs can be used in combination or singly.
  • Modern kitchen pharmacy: using garden products and kitchen staples for:
    • Digestive problems
    • Skin disorders
    • Headaches
    • Common cold
  • Herbal teas do not traditionally contain caffeine.
  • Phytochemicals are released into the water when herbal teas/decoctions are made (boiling or steeping).

Herbal Teas and Decoctions for Nervous System Support

  • Drinking tea traditionally helps relieve stress and promote relaxation.
  • Examples:
    • Chamomile: relieves anxiety, depression, and promotes sleep.
    • Passionflower: sedative, hypnotic for nervousness, excitability, hysteria, and ADHD.
    • Lavender: helpful for agitated behavior, anxiety, cognitive performance, depression, hypnotic, sleep aid, stress, and overall well-being.

Decoctions

  • Made by boiling water and simmering a hard plant part (e.g., ginger, dandelion root) typically for 10-15 minutes.
  • Can use bark or seeds (e.g., chai teas).
  • Ginger decoction:
    • Easy to make at home.
    • Traditional uses:
      • Soothing respiratory inflammation.
      • Enhancing immune response.
      • Reducing nausea.
    • Recipe:
      • 1-2 cm of ginger root, diced or crushed.
      • 1 cup of water.
      • Bring to boil, then simmer for 5-10 minutes with a lid on to capture essential oils.
      • Strain and consume warm.

Immune Support

  • Elderberries and flowers:
    • Some positive scientific evidence for treating influenza.
    • Unclear or conflicting evidence for bacterial sinusitis and bronchitis.
    • Approved by the German Commission E for colds.
    • Traditionally used for coughs, herpes, immune stimulant, laryngitis.
  • Thyme:
    • Over 400 species; Thymus vulgaris used medically.
    • Antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties.
    • Traditionally used for upper respiratory infections (e.g., bronchitis, cough).
    • Can be used fresh or dried.
    • Unclear or conflicting level of scientific evidence.
  • Yarrow:
    • Commonly combined with elder and peppermint to make YEP tea for colds.
    • Traditionally used for the common cold.
  • Lemon:
    • Use fresh fruit, zest, juice, or skin to make tea.
    • Contains essential oils with antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Digestive System Support

  • Ginger:
    • Commonly used to relieve nausea, indigestion, vomiting, dyspepsia.
    • Good scientific evidence for use in nausea and vomiting, especially during pregnancy.
    • Ginger Decoction Recipe:
      • 1-2 cm piece of ginger, roughly diced or crushed.
      • Place in a saucepan with 1 cup of water.
      • Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 5-10 minutes.
      • Leave the lid on to capture essential oils.
      • Strain the liquid and consume while still warm.
  • Peppermint:
    • Long traditional history for treating digestive conditions, especially irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and indigestion.
    • Good scientific evidence for peppermint oil in IBS.
    • Some positive scientific evidence for antispasmodic activity, dyspepsia, abdominal distention.
    • Unclear or conflicting evidence for nausea and vomiting.
  • Chamomile:
    • Used medicinally for thousands of years for digestive/intestinal conditions.
    • Unclear or conflicting level of scientific evidence for efficacy in gastrointestinal conditions.
    • Longwood Herbal Task Force: chamomile is a remedy for gastrointestinal upset.

Urinary System Support

  • Corn silk:
    • Traditionally used to help relieve cystitis, urethritis, UTIs, chronic inflammation of the urinary system.
    • Instructions:
      • Soak 0.50.5 g of dried corn silk in 5050 mL of boiling water for 5−105-10 minutes.
      • Repeat and consume three times per day.