Decoction (simmered roots and bark)

You need

• 1 tablespoon dried root or bark (or 2 tablespoons fresh, sliced thin)
• 2 cups cold water
• A small pot with a lid

Makes about 1½ cups.

Good for

Ginger, Burdock, Dandelion, Astragalus, Cinnamon, Licorice root, Elderberry, Sarsaparilla, Yellow dock, Codonopsis, Rehmannia, Dong quai, Turmeric, Eleuthero

Steps

1. Put the herb and the cold water in the pot. Starting cold draws out more.
2. Bring it to a boil, then turn it down to a low simmer.
3. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Tougher roots like astragalus can go 30 to 45.
4. Take it off the heat and let it steep, still covered, another 10 minutes.
5. Strain. A quarter to half of the water will have cooked off, which is normal.

Keeping it: Keeps 2 to 3 days in a closed jar in the fridge. Warm it gently; don't boil it again.

Be careful: Licorice root raises blood pressure and lowers potassium if taken daily for weeks. Elderberries must always be cooked; raw ones can make you sick.