Heating Herbs and Infusions

[AnnettStudent]

Doc,

I’ve been trying to understand why we make hot infusions if heating herbs damages medicine.

I checked the temperature on a one cup hot infusion today. After I poured the just boiled water into a mug and stirred in 1 tsp honey the temperature was 162 degrees F. After 25 minutes it was 135 degrees.  I thought I heard somewhere in my learning that over 110 degrees damages medicine. So, what is the truth please and do hot infusions damage medicine and antibacterial properties of honey? (Just to be clear I’m not asking about volatile oils–I already understand that:)

[HarmonyStudent]

Hi Annette,

The temp I’m careful about is 140 degrees. You’re right – I don’t want to boil the herbs, as it damages the medicinal properties. I try to catch the water before it boils, or let it set for a moment before making my tea.

Doc may have some other ideas.

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Valerie Jane Baynton, Annett

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

It depends completely on the herb. Herbs that have a high essential oil content (like mints), lots of aucubin (an anti-inflammatory found in plantain and lots of other plants), or lots of mucilage* (like marshmallow, comfrey, slippery elm) are going to be weakened by boiling water. Other herbs with less heat-labile ingredients, could care less about being simmered in boiling water.

*Mucilage doesn’t really get “damaged” by boiling, it just gets goobery and gross if you boil it.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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CarolAnn, Natalie Stamenov

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Thank you Doc!

How is the best way to go about learning which ones are damaged in heat and which aren’t?

And, secondly, is there a general temperature that you suggest for making hot infusions that won’t damage medicine?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

When I talk about not going over 105 degrees, I’m always referring to drying techniques. Long term exposure (drying for hours and hours) is harder on the herbs that sitting in hot water for a few minutes.

For teas, I use boiling water but don’t boil the herbs. They all seem to work fine that way. The essential oil kids could do with a lid of course and the kids with lots of mucilage can get a bit goobery but otherwise most herbs don’t seem to mind and seem to work fine.

Also the aucubin in plants like plantain really gets beaten up by heat. So cold infusion is best if you want plantain to be anti-inflammatory. If you just want it to do its other things, hot tea is dandy.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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Paige

[Author]

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