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Decoction
Decoction is a popular means of extracting the essence of many hard rooted plants by boiling them in water. These plants mainly include herbs, stems, barks, roots and rhizomes.
These plants are first crushed or mashed up, then boiled in water so that the essential oils and other organic compounds can be extracted easily. Traditionally this was used in the making of herbal teas. They are still in use nowadays but the method has changed depending on the plant or herb. This can be a very clean and effective way to insure all unwanted bacteria that still cling to roots are destroyed.
This procedure is popular for various reasons. It allows the softening of the tip of the grain, allowing it to be more susceptible for cutting and mashing. This also raises the temperature of the herb so as to prepare it for the next step.
After the optimum temperature has been reached, the boiled water allows the breaking up of the starch molecules. This definitely leads to a successful extraction because all the unwanted molecules such as grain malts are removed entirely. After the extraction, the crispness of other prominent herbal plants is achieved.
This process allows for the more vital parts of the plant to remain intact while the unwanted ones boil away. With this you can experiment greatly and create a myriad of combinations using different herbs, plants and stems. The results can be interesting as well as very beneficial to your health. These decoctions are best served warm, when their effectiveness is at its best. Also some people enjoy adding unrefined sugar or honey to the brew to make it easier to swallow. This also enables digestion to be easy on the stomach for those who have a weak liver. This can also be a good way to entice young children to take the brew.
What most people also do is use a nylon sieve to pour the mixture into another container. This helps in eliminating any impurities which may have been left behind. Such brews work instantaneously because their contents are absorbed into the cells as soon as they are ingested. Nowadays, the method has become more refined with enamel or stainless steel replacing earthen pot ware. The heat loss is reduced and there is no danger of the liquid killing the useful molecules due to overheating.