Chinese Medicinal Teas
by Xiao-Fan Zong, Gary Liscum
Excerpt
The Advantages of Infusions over Decoctions
One advantage to an infusion as opposed to a decoction is that it preserves the volatile oils and aromatic medicinal substances that are lost when certain ingredients are boiled. For instance, Mint (Herba Menthae Haplocalycis), Chrysanthemum flowers (Flos Chrysanthemi Morifolii), and Senna leaves (Folium Sennae) lose their medicinal strength if decocted and should only be infused or not be boiled for a very long period of time. Other substances which should not be boiled are the various gelatins such as Gelatinum Corii Asini, Gelatinum Plastri Testudinis, and Gelatinum Cornu Cervi. These should only be allowed to dissolve in boiling water.
Secondly, patient compliance is typically higher with infusions than decoctions. Chinese herbal decoctions are notoriously bitter. There is even a saying in Chinese which goes to the effect that, "The bitterer the brew, the better the medicine." Although that may be the case, medicine is useless if the patient refuses to drink it. Infusions are usually much milder in taste than decoctions and, therefore, patients often will drink them more readily. Another consideration is that infusions are quicker to prepare. During the short steeping time required, patients do not have to worry about their herbs boiling away or boiling over. Thus the relative ease of preparing infusions also makes them suitable for fast-paced, busy modern Westerners.
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