Now here we have a standard infusion. We're using the same plant material as we did in the previous lesson. But if you'll notice the color is much deeper, Fuller, and if you could taste it, you'd be able to taste the richness. With standard infusions you use more plant material and you let it steep for much longer. Remember the long of the herbs deep in the water, the more medicine you're able to extract from the asset a standard infusion is actually our first preparation that is taken for therapeutic and medicinal benefits. Lately, I've been getting really intense neck and shoulder pain to distress Ah, good old stress.

So I've formulated an anti inflammatory blend to help reduce the pain. Taking only one cup wouldn't do me any good though. So I made three cups at once and drink it throughout the day. within two days, the pain discomfort and tightness was gone. I was sleeping better at night and waking up feeling much looser. This is the beauty of taking and making standard infusions for acute and or chronic illnesses are pains.

They really give the body a chance to be repaired, restored and rebalanced. herbs work slowly but deeply so when you take them to address your elements, it is really imperative that you do so with consistency. Making and taking standard infusions consistently and in proper dosage is really a part of the foundation to your healing process when you're working with herbs. Now let's run through the steps of making your standard infusion. The process is pretty much identical to making tea. Let's run through it quickly.

For one cup of standard infusion, you'll need an eight ounce mug and one tablespoon of your herb or blend. Put your own fuser into your mug and add the one tablespoon of Earth to the infuser. Pour eight ounces of fresh boiled hot water into your infuser, soaking the earth. Cover the infuser and let it steep for at least 20 minutes. Remember, the longer it seems the more of the medicinal properties you'll draw out of the earth. Sometimes I let mine steep for an hour.

After at least 20 minutes, remove the infuser from your cup. And voila, you have delicious and therapeutic herbal medicine, your standard infusion and making standard infusions most herbs will be appropriate. There are of course exceptions. So having several good herbal books in your library will be beneficial for selecting the appropriate herbs according to not only your condition, but your herbal preparation. A very general rule of thumb for teas, standard infusions and nourishing herbal infusions, which we'll get to next is that you're going to use aerial parts of the plant the soft parts like the leaves, the flowers and the stems. Here's some of my favorite herbs to make a standard infusions along with some of the uses and benefits.

Lemongrass is a delicious cooling digestive er that relaxes the muscles of the stomach and gut that's relieving cramping and gas pains. It's anti inflammatory, anti spasmodic and a diaphoretic meaning that it helps to reduce heat Like in fevers. Lemon balm makes such a delicious hot beverage or even chilled for a cold refreshing drink. It soothes the nerves reduces excitation on the heart digestion and nervous system. It is antidepressant, antiviral and anti spasmodic. calendula is like adding a bit of sunshine to your blend.

That's what I think of it, at least every time I use it. And with a long list of therapeutic benefits and uses, it's kind of like sunshine tube and that it helps you get back to your brightest self. It's an excellent lymphatic cleanser that also works on the mucous membranes to break up and clear excessive secretions when you're sick. I often add calendula to blends that tackle infection, especially if the person has a cold or constitution because it's warming. It's anti inflammatory, anti viral, and an immune system tonic. I also like to think of it as healing wounds inside and out because externally it is an excellent remedy for a variety of skin conditions such as eczema fungal infections, dry skin, sunburn diaper rash and more.

Dandelion Yep, that we that you probably have in your yard is medicinal and one of our most nutritious plants. It is a nutritive tonic to the digestive organs with an affinity to the liver, the blood and limp. It is alternative a high potassium diuretic and a kidney cleanser. Melon is one of my go to herbs for coughs and lung issues and it's great for kids. It is a pulmonary ally that suits relaxes and opens the respiratory system to relieve congestion and costs. It is antispasmodic which is great for persistent coughs.

It lubricates the bronchioles is a pain reliever and lymphatic cleanser which is an important critical aspect of clearing infections from the body.