Infusions and decoctions are water extracts from medicinal plant materials, which differ in the time of heating in a boiling water bath: 15 min for infusions and 30 min for decoctions.
Infusions are usually prepared from flowers, leaves and herbs; decoctions from leathery leaves, fruits, seeds, bark and underground organs. After that, the infusions are kept at room temperature for at least 45 minutes, decoctions – 10 minutes, then filtered, carefully squeezing the residue, if necessary, adding water to a primary volume.
The preparation of herbal teas is characterized by the fact that a weighed portion of raw material is poured boiling water, covered and infused for 10 – 15 min (sometimes 30 min), filtered, squeezed. As for the qualitative chemical composition, according to phytochemical analyses, teas do not differ from infusions, but can not replace decoctions.
Several specialists of modern phytotherapy offer as a general recommendation for the preparation of infusions and decoctions: 1 tablespoon of dried plant material per 500 ml of boiling water, which is the daily therapeutic dose for an adult.