Inner Ecology Decoction Instructions What tools might I require? Always use glass, ceramic, and stainless steel tools. Do not use plastic, aluminum, or coated cookware or utensils. 1. Water, preferably filtered 2. Stovetop or slow cooker 3. Large pot with lid (around 3 qt.) 4. Strainer 5. Bowl 6. Liquid measuring cup Your formula 7. Small pot with a lid (around 1 qt.), if your formula contains any medicinal requires a small pot. that requires separate decoction A “decoction” is a liquid extract made by boiling medicinals in water. Making a decoction is like making tea, but stronger, as the herbs are simmered in the water, rather than just steeping. Making a Basic Decoction Your formula 1. Read all instructions received with your formula before cooking. contains herbs that • If your formula contains smaller, labeled bags, remove these from the require special primary formula and set aside. These are herbs that require special preparation. preparations. Please see below for detailed instructions. • If your formula contains unlabeled teabags, leave these unopened in the primary formula. Unlabeled teabags do not require special preparation. 2. Place your primary formula (all medicinals not in specialized bags) into your large pot. Add enough water to keep the herbs well covered, and soak for 30 minutes. Make sure to have enough water to keep the herbs covered throughout the cook process; you may add water if needed. Simmer your 3. With the lid in place, bring your medicinals to a boil. Reduce to a simmer formula for ____ for 30-60 minutes, according to your herbalist’s instructions. minutes. 4. Pour the decocted liquid through your strainer into your bowl. Gently press the cooked herbs in the strainer with the back of a spoon to release the remaining liquid. Do not pour your medicine down the sink! Cook your formula a 5. If your practitioner has instructed you to do a second cook then repeat second time. steps 2 through 4. Soaking is not required for a second cook. 6. Once you have cooked your formula the recommended number of times and reserved the liquid decoction, you may discard the dregs. Each package of 7. Measure the resulting total liquid to calculate dosage. your formula contain • For example, if your formula is for 3 days, and the resulting decoction ____ days’ herbs. measured 4 cups, each day’s dose is one and one third cups. 8. Refrigerate your decoction once it cools to room temperature. We Take your formula recommend that you use a glass container rather than plastic for storage. room temperature or Your herbalist may recommend that you take your medicine at a particular warmer. temperature, usually at room temperature or warmer. Take your formula hot. Inner Ecology Decoction Instructions Special Preparations Your formula This label indicates medicinals that must be cooked for a longer time. contains an herb with Pour the medicinals in this bag into a smaller pot with enough water to this label. keep covered and simmer for the number of minutes instructed. Keep Cook for ____ covered. Then, before bringing primary decoction to a boil, add the cooked minutes, prior to herbs and the decocted liquid to the primary decoction. adding to primary formula. For example: if the label reads “Pre-Decoct for 45 Minutes”, simmer the medicinal in this bag by itself for 45 minutes. After cooking for 45 minutes, pour both the herb and its cooking liquid into your large pot, where the rest of your formula is soaking. Continue the preparation as a standard decoction. Your formula This label indicates herbs that must be cooked for a shorter time. Add contains an herb with contents of this bag to the primary near end of cooking process for this label. number of minutes specified. Add this herb for the final ____ minutes of For example: if the label reads “Add for the Final 5 Minutes of the cooking. Decoction Process” and you are cooking the rest of your formula for 30 minutes, then simmer the primary formula for 25 minutes, add the special medicinal, and cook for another 5 minutes. This label indicates herbs that do not require simmering. Steep these Your formula medicinals in the hot decoction for specified number of minutes after contains an herb with cooking is complete. this label. Steep this herb in the prepared decoction For example: if the label reads “Steep for 5 Minutes in Decoction After for ____ minutes. Cooking is Complete”, cook the primary decoction as instructed and turn off your stove or pot. Add the special medicinal while the liquid is still hot, and let it steep for 5 minutes before straining. This label indicates herbs that do not require cooking, but must be dissolved in the warm decoction. After cooking is complete, stir these Your formula herbs into the decoction until completely dissolved. contains an herb with this label. For example: if the label reads “Stir into Decoction After Cooking is Complete”, finish cooking the primary formula and strain the decoction. While the liquid is still warm, add the special medicinal and continue stirring until it is completely dissolved. This may take a few minutes..