Decoct

Decoct is a method of extraction by boiling herbal or plant material to dissolve the chemicals of the material. It is commonly used in the preparation of herbal medicine, where the desired constituents are extracted from the plant material by boiling. The resulting liquid is called a decoction.

Preparation

The process of making a decoction involves boiling the plant material, typically roots, bark, or seeds, in water for a specified period, usually 15 to 30 minutes. The mixture is then strained to remove the solid plant material, leaving behind a concentrated liquid. This method is particularly effective for extracting water-soluble compounds and is often used for tougher plant materials that are not easily extracted through other methods such as infusion.

Uses

Decoctions are used in various traditional medicine systems, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, and Western herbalism. In TCM, decoctions are a primary method of preparing herbal formulas, where multiple herbs are combined and boiled together to create a potent remedy. In Ayurveda, decoctions are known as kashayam and are used to balance the doshas.

Comparison with Infusion

While both decoction and infusion are methods of extracting plant materials, they differ in their approach. An infusion involves steeping plant material in hot water, similar to making tea, and is typically used for more delicate parts of the plant, such as leaves and flowers. Decoction, on the other hand, involves boiling and is used for tougher plant materials.

Related Techniques

• Tincture: An alcoholic extract of plant material.
• Infusion: A method of extracting plant material by steeping in hot water.
• Maceration: Soaking plant material in a solvent to extract its constituents.

See Also

• Herbalism
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Ayurveda
• Phytotherapy
• Extraction (chemistry)

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