When it comes to herbal remedies, how should customers choose between teas and tinctures? Traditionally used to calm nerves and settle stomachs, herbal teas and tinctures are now being nudged into the spotlight by intriguing research that suggests they may aid more serious conditions as well. In a 2008 U.S. Department of Agriculture study, researchers found that drinking 3 cups of hibiscus tea daily lowered systolic blood pressure in subjects by more than seven points after only six weeks. Still, deciding to go tea or tincture boils down to personal preference. The following guidelines can help your customers decide.

The benefits of tinctures

The benefits of teas

How to prepare herbal teas
Tictures usually come ready-made, but teas must be prepared. Packaged teas make it easy to brew an herbal remedy for everything from coughs and colds to fatigue andlow energy. Boxed herbal teas generally contain about 1 teaspoon of herbs per tea bag. This makes a tasty beverage tea, but for stronger medicinal benefits, two tea bags should be used.

To properly prepare an herbal tea, bring fresh spring or filtered water to a boil. Place the tea bag into a teacup or mug and add hot water. Cover with a saucer to prevent the plants’ volatile essential oils from escaping, and steep for 10 minutes (no more than four minutes for green tea).

Boxed herbal teas can provide a soothing after-dinner digestive, a calming potion before bed or temporary easing of a sore throat when taken hot. A bagged tea isn’t likely to deliver a sufficient dose of healing compounds for more serious conditions, though.

For a stronger medicinal tea, customers should use an infusion or decoction. Infusions can contain leaves, flowers, berries and crushed seeds. Measure 2 tablespoons of dried herbs for each cup of tea desired, and place into a glass, stainless steel or porcelain container with a lid. Add the appropriate amount of boiled water, cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the herb and drink up to 3 cups a day.

Decoctions are used for tougher parts of plants, including the bark and roots. Place 2 tablespoons of dried herbs and 1 1/4 cup of water for every cup of tea desired into a stainless steel or glass pot with a lid. Allow the herbs to soak for 15 minutes. Then bring the mixture to a boil, cover, turn the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and steep an additional 10 minutes. Strain out the herbs and drink up to 3 cups a day.

What to do if an herbal-tea recipe combines roots and leaves? First make a decoction with the roots. Then, after removing the pot from the heat, add the leaves and steep for 10 more minutes.

Herbalist Laurel Vukovic lives in Ashland, Ore. and is the author of Herbal Healing Secrets for Women (Prentice Hall, 2000).