Drinking a strong nourishing herbal infusion is a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to enjoy healthy herbs like nettle leaf and oatstraw. These herbs help protect you from the damaging effects of stress and promote overall wellness.
These herbal brews give you a concentrated source of the nutrients and beneficial constituents found in healthy herbs. They are easy for the body to assimilate in this form.
Herbal teas do have benefits, but they are much too weak to be nutritious. They are easy for the body to assimilate in this form.
In this video, herbalist Susun Weed demonstrates how to make an oatstraw herbal infusion. The process is the same for most leaves, seeds and flowers.
This recipe calls for one ounce of herb to four cups of boiling water. Let this infuse in a covered jar for at least four hours. Strain and refrigerate. The infusion will keep up to three days in the refrigerator, so only make enough for that many days. Drink one to four cups a day.
Use a glass jar (at least 32 ounces) with a lid. A large coffee press or tea pot with an infuser inside it saves you the step of straining the liquid.
After you squeeze all the goodness out of the herb, put it on your potted plants, compost it, or throw it on the lawn to return it to the earth.
Herbal Infusion Tips
Although drinking any amount of herbal infusion is better than none, you will receive the most benefit from drinking them regularly for at least a few months. Aim for two cups a day, five days a week. Continue indefinitely.
If you choose to use oatstraw and nettle leaf regularly, it's usually much less expensive to purchase high quality organic herbs in bulk from a reliable source like Mountain Rose Herbs.
When consuming herbs in large quantities, you want to make sure they are not loaded with chemicals that will leach into the water.
Wildcrafted herbs (those picked in the wild) that have not been sprayed or picked from polluted areas are also good choices.
Make sure the herbs are high quality so you get the nutritional benefit. Look for a nice bright color and a fresh aroma.
If you harvest the plants yourself, dry them before infusing. This allows the nutrients to escape from the plant. If the cell walls are still intact, you won't get much benefit from infusing the herbs in water.
Sticking with one herb for a few weeks really gives you the chance to experience its benefits and effects on your mind and body.
You might also like to rotate healthy herbs. Use oatstraw for a few days or weeks, then switch to nettle leaf.
Another option is to combine them into one infusion.
Here's my recipe: Combine 2/3 cup of nettle leaf, 1/3 cup of oatstraw and a heaping spoonful of licorice root for its sweetness and health benefits. Add to your container of choice and follow all directions as explained above. Licorice nourishes the adrenal glands which are taxed under stress. Note that licorice can raise blood pressure in sensitive individuals.
Drink your brew plain or with a little sweetener or sea salt. Add more water if the taste is too strong. A spoonful of dried mint leaves or ginger added to the brew helps with indigestion and adds a nice flavor.
Herbal infusions can also be used to replace some of the liquid in soups, stews and hot cereals. Use oatstraw infusion instead of water to make oatmeal.
If you are chronically stressed like most people in the modern world, or are just looking for a way to naturally nourish yourself, enjoying an herbal infusion often is a great healthy habit.
Enjoy these drinks throughout the day. Make them part of your breakfast to protect yourself from the effects of the day's stress. Pack a thermos or bottle to give yourself a boost throughout the day. Sip on oatstraw infusion before bed to soothe your nerves and build energy for the next day.
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