The deep decoction yields one of the powerful herbal preparations and is often made in a large pot, slow cooker, or crockpot. A deep decoction lasts much longer than tea or regular decoctions due to there being less water content in the finished product.

When a deep decoction is made, the herb stays in the water for a far longer period than usual resulting in the decoction taking on more of the herb’s benefits, not just the therapeutic ones, but nourishing food-like benefits as well. Deep decoctions are classed as having all the therapeutic properties usually associated with the herbs it contains but are also considered nutritive tonics.

The best way to prepare your deep decoction is by using a slow cooker. That way you can better control the decoctions temperature throughout the simmering process. Add your fresh or dried herbs to the pot in any quantity, then add enough water to generously cover the herbs so that they are loose and not compact in the water. A deep decoction ideally needs to heat for at least eight hours, but many herbalists will let the herbs decoct for up to 24 hours.

Once your herbs have decocted, allow the pot to cool before straining, which will also give the herbs some extra time in the liquid. The herbs can then be strained followed by a very important step in order to lengthen the life of the decoction, and that is to filter the decoction with a milk bag or cheesecloth.

This isn’t a step you’d have to take with tea because infusions are usually consumed quickly after being prepared. Because a deep decoction is normally made with a larger quantity of herbs, water, and can be kept for longer, you need to remove all those tiny little bits of plant parts that can remain after the straining process to prevent bacterial growth.

The final stage is reducing the decoction. Heat your decoction in a saucepan to the point where there is steam and a little surface movement, but no bubbles. The further you reduce your decoction down, the longer it will last. In theory, you can start drinking a deep decoction once you’ve strained it, but only if you’re planning to drink it straight away. If it’s designed to be used over the course of treatment, it ideally needs to be reduced down to about 10 percent of its original volume.

A deep decoction that has been reduced this far can be stored as you would a tincture and taken at about 5 ml per dose, up to three times a day. It is wise to you keep your deep decoction in the fridge and consume within a month.