Hi Andrew! I am curious as yesterday you spoke of a nettle and mineral broth. It sounds like a great idea, and I would like to know if it is possible to have your recipe ;-) At the same time, what and how do these minerals found in herbs (as nettle) fortify in the fundamental textures in TCM? I agree with you on decoctions, but my experience is that it takes lot of time to do it daily (it has become a daily practice, I make tea all day...), but I have experienced a lot of benefits on my health. So broths seems like an excellent idea to add diversity in the way we use herbs. I already use Astragalus in a broth for the dryer season as fall. Thank you!

Andrew said: I don't really have a specific recipe. Mineral rich herbs/substances are things like nettles, oat straw, horsetail, raspberry leaf, alfalfa and so many other herbs! Primarily they have an underlying mineral-salt flavor (to be continued in David's class on the ten tastes). I see these herbs as gently nourishing to blood, depending upon the mix of herbs you use. The concept comes from making bone broth: Heavy bones covered with water + a cup of apple cider vinegar to help leach minerals out into the water. Cook as long as possible (12-24 hours). I am vegetarian so I use a few cups of dried herbs + organic veggie scraps leftover from cooking (garlic skins, onion skins, carrot tops, veggie peels, seeds... whatever) + egg shells + a sheet of kelp apple cider vinegar + Makes a great recipe to use in cooking instead of vegetable broth or water. It enriches the food with trace minerals and adds complex flavor. If I have a fresh burdock root I will add that. If I can get some, I will add fresh shiitake and maitake for immune support. All of the veggie ingredients get chopped in my food processor before cooking. Typically I cook all day 12+ hours, let cool, put it in the fridge to extract overnight as a cold infusion, strain in the morning and use an herb press to get out all of the goodness. Use within four days or freeze in glass mason jars (uncovered and half full so they don't break). Infusions are great! I drink them all day long instead of water. However, decoctions are much better as medicine. Remember this progression as a very general way of thinking: Diet/sleep/exercise FIRST. If that does not work add herbs or supplements. If that is still not enough then you could try drugs and surgery. I think of infusions and broths as diet-level herbs. Decoctions and tinctures are generally more in the realm of medicine-herbs. It depends on the goal and level of intervention. The TCM saying is: We get people on hers to get them off of herbs. We get them on acupuncture/diet/exercise so that we can keep them on acupuncture/diet/exercise! Astragalus is great but is contraindicated for those with excessive heat or yang/qi rising symptoms. It can be drying and should not be used for a person who is too dry. Otherwise, great tonic herb.