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This Badge Bit (BB) is part of the PEP Curriculum. Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Natural Medicine.

In this BB you will make a decoction from thyme.  Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling herbal or plant material to dissolve the chemicals of the material, which may include stems, roots, bark, and rhizomes.


(teaandmagic.wordpress.com)


Additional Information:
Mother Earth Living on Decoction
Instructions on how to make a herbal decoction
All about thyme

Minimum requirements:
  - Make a decoction
  - Strain and store your decoction

To document completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or a video (< 2 minutes):
  - Thyme (either being harvested or just harvested)
  - Making  the decoction
  - Finished decoction in its labeled jar
COMMENTS:
 
author & steward
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Approved submission
Thyme decoction.

Harvesting thyme from the herb bed.

Thyme decoction simmering gently.

Thyme decoction in a labeled jar.


True confession. That last one was just a photo op for the BB. What I really did with it, was drink it!

Thyme decoction as tea.


It smelled so good I couldn't resist. :)

Lastly, the thyme page from my herb journal.

Recipe for thyme decoction and dosage at the bottom of the page.
Staff note (Ash Jackson) :

I certify this BB complete!

 
gardener
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Approved submission
Here is my BB submission!

Fresh Thyme:


Harvest Thyme & Peppermint


Simmering:


Finished:


Journal Entry:

Staff note (Rob Lineberger) :

Looks good!  Certified.

 
pollinator
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Approved submission
Before today, I had no idea how lovely it was to sip on a thyme beverage!

Here's my basic recipe for twiggy herb decoctions as well as the information for the particular herb: thyme. Copy and pasted from my word doc. natural medicine journal.

Decoctions
Basic Recipe (twigs)
1 teaspoon dried herbs or 1 Tablespoon fresh herbs to every 1 cup of cold water
Create 3 cups for a day’s dose

1. Place herbs and cold water into saucepan
2. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes
3. Strain into a container with lid, cover, and let cool slightly
Drink one cup three times a day. May be drunk hot or cold.



I eyeballed the herb amount and went with 1 and 1/2 cups of water.

Thyme
Thymus Vulgaris

Infusion and Decoction
Chest infections, stomach chills, or irritable bowel syndrome.



I really need to be better about flipping my photos around :)
Harvesting-Thyme.jpg
[Thumbnail for Harvesting-Thyme.jpg]
Simmering.jpg
[Thumbnail for Simmering.jpg]
Complete-Decoction.jpg
[Thumbnail for Complete-Decoction.jpg]
Staff note (Leigh Tate) :

I certify this badge bit complete!

 
pollinator
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Approved submission
Thyme decoction. When I make a decoction,  I end up with about half the water I started with so the herb is much stronger than with an infusion. I was going to save this to add to lemonade but it was quite tasty so I will probably keep making this until I run out of fresh thyme.
20210827_193848.jpg
Harvesting
Harvesting
20210827_194302.jpg
The back pot is the decoction
The back pot is the decoction
20210827_200943.jpg
Back pot decoction
Back pot decoction
20210827_201000.jpg
Straining
Straining
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Labeled
Labeled
20210827_210234.jpg
DECOCTION , decided to drink it instead
DECOCTION , decided to drink it instead
20210827_201048.jpg
Infusion as a comparison
Infusion as a comparison
Staff note (gir bot) :

Opalyn Rose approved this submission.
Note: I hereby certify this badge bit complete.

 
gardener
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Approved submission
I picked some thyme earlier for an infusion and I decided to also make a decoction. For this, I used the woodier thyme stems along with the leaves and younger stems (basically the whole plant above the root system). I covered it with water in a stainless steel pan, brought it to the boil and kept it simmering for 20 minutes.

Thyme seems to be used for both chest and stomach complaints so I'll keep this decoction on hand for either of those. I may add a drop or two to soups or stews too, for flavour and health (although I tend to pick fresh for that).
thyme.jpg
Plant that I harvested
Plant that I harvested
thyme-harvested.jpg
I harvested a handful
I harvested a handful
wip-1.jpg
Starting to boil
Starting to boil
wip-2.jpg
Rolling boil, I turned down the heat
Rolling boil, I turned down the heat
labelled.jpg
Strained and in the labelled jar
Strained and in the labelled jar
Staff note (gir bot) :

jordan barton approved this submission.

 
pollinator
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Approved submission
I had made a Thyme infusion a few days ago, so making a decoction was the next step.

I harvested a good size bunch of thyme from my herb garden.

I added to just boiled water and put on a low heat for 30 minutes.

Strained into a jar and added a label - job done.
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[Thumbnail for BF9AEC1B-E63C-41B0-ACCB-6D711B94EE68.jpeg]
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[Thumbnail for 2364F457-D879-4857-B6C5-6F17E0B63006.jpeg]
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[Thumbnail for 6A94FA89-844E-4E68-8377-38C2BDD0BF58.jpeg]
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[Thumbnail for CAEF8905-00CE-4E24-A502-EFAA974708EE.jpeg]
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[Thumbnail for 3081C9B3-F7D9-4AF9-BEB2-45E7243D888C.jpeg]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Nicole Alderman approved this submission.
Note: I hereby certify that this badge bit is complete!

 
gardener
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Approved submission

To document completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or a video (< 2 minutes):
 - Thyme (either being harvested or just harvested)
 - Making  the decoction
 - Finished decoction in its labeled jar



Here's my thyme decoction. I simmered freshly harvested sprigs of time in water for 20 minutes.
PXL_20230709_163310949.jpg
Harvesting thyme
Harvesting thyme
PXL_20230709_170220241.jpg
Simmering thyme in a stainless steel pot
Simmering thyme in a stainless steel pot
PXL_20230709_195338482.jpg
The finished, strained thyme decoction in a labeled jar
The finished, strained thyme decoction in a labeled jar
Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone approved this submission.
Note: Approved! 

 
pioneer
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Approved submission

Minimum requirements:
 - Make a decoction
 - Strain and store your decoction

To document completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or a video (< 2 minutes):
 - Thyme (either being harvested or just harvested)
 - Making  the decoction
 - Finished decoction in its labeled jar



I harvested sprigs of thyme, then boiled 2 c water in a stainless steel pot, lowered the heat, and simmered the thyme for 25 minutes to make the decoction. It looks kind of pale but has a wonderful aroma. Next time I will probably use more thyme, or more time, ha.
IMG_20230709_174831900.jpg
Harvesting thyme
Harvesting thyme
IMG_20230709_181024532.jpg
Simmering the herbs
Simmering the herbs
IMG_20230709_181802683.jpg
Straining
Straining
IMG_20230709_182000952.jpg
Finished and labaeled
Finished and labaeled
Staff note (gir bot) :

Nikki Roche approved this submission.
Note: Good work and thorough documentation!

 
Posts: 102
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Approved submission
Minimum requirements:
- Make a decoction
- Strain and store your decoction

To document completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or a video (< 2 minutes):
- Thyme (either being harvested or just harvested)
- Making  the decoction
- Finished decoction in its labeled jar
01-Harvesting-Thyme.jpg
[Thumbnail for 01-Harvesting-Thyme.jpg]
02-Making-Decoction.jpg
[Thumbnail for 02-Making-Decoction.jpg]
03-Labeled-decoction.jpg
[Thumbnail for 03-Labeled-decoction.jpg]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone approved this submission.

 
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Approved submission
Thyme for a decoction!
20240828_131931.jpg
harvesting
harvesting
20240829_123157.jpg
simmering for 20 mins
simmering for 20 mins
20240829_192218.jpg
jarred and labeled
jarred and labeled
Staff note (gir bot) :

Nikki Roche approved this submission.

 
Posts: 67
Location: Central Ohio
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Approved submission
Made a thyme decoction and also cleaned up the thyme that's spilling over into my pathway.

used 1 cup of thyme to about 3 cups of water and let simmer for probably 2 hours, much longer than needed I think.
IMG_6404.jpeg
harvesting thyme
harvesting thyme
IMG_6405.jpeg
harvesting thyme
harvesting thyme
IMG_6406.jpeg
simmering for a couple hours
simmering for a couple hours
IMG_6407.jpeg
strained into a glass jar
strained into a glass jar
IMG_6408.jpeg
labeled
labeled
Staff note (gir bot) :

Nikki Roche approved this submission.

 
gardener
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Submission flagged incomplete
I was sick with some respiratory illness this past weekend so I made a thyme (and ginger and lime) decoction.

Minimum requirements:
  - Make a decoction
  - Strain and store your decoction

To document completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or a video (< 2 minutes):
  - Thyme (either being harvested or just harvested)
  - Making  the decoction
  - Finished decoction in its labeled jar
thyme_harvest.JPG
[Thumbnail for thyme_harvest.JPG]
making-the-decoction.jpg
[Thumbnail for making-the-decoction.jpg]
straining-decoction-with-label.jpg
[Thumbnail for straining-decoction-with-label.jpg]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone flagged this submission as not complete.
BBV price: 1
Note: Thyme, ginger, and lime sound like a great combo, especially for a viral respiratory illness! Per the beginning of the BB, "Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling herbal or plant material to dissolve the chemicals of the material..."  From your post, it looks like your thyme was simply steeped in water.

 
Alexandra Malecki
gardener
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Approved submission
I put thyme in a pot of boiling water for 30 mins then strained.

In this BB you will make a decoction from thyme.  Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling herbal or plant material to dissolve the chemicals of the material, which may include stems, roots, bark, and rhizomes.

Minimum requirements:
  - Make a decoction
  - Strain and store your decoction

To document completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or a video (< 2 minutes):
  - Thyme (either being harvested or just harvested)
  - Making  the decoction
  - Finished decoction in its labeled jar
thyme_harvest.JPG
[Thumbnail for thyme_harvest.JPG]
thyme-decoction-to-be-strained.jpg
[Thumbnail for thyme-decoction-to-be-strained.jpg]
thyme-decoction_take-2.jpg
[Thumbnail for thyme-decoction_take-2.jpg]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Cheryl Loomans approved this submission.
Note: I hearby certify this BB is complete!

 
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