1

Decoctions are the most straightforward
way to prepare tougher plant parts such
as bark, berries, and roots. Chopped
fresh or dried material is simmered in
water for about 20 minutes. The
resulting liquid is strained and drunk.
Decoctions are good for extracting
water-soluble constituents such as
tannins, for example in witch hazel bark
(Hamamelis virginiana). Like infusions,
they have long traditional use and are
still the main method of preparation
used in traditional Chinese medicine.

1

Decoctions are the most straightforward
way to prepare tougher plant parts such
as bark, berries, and roots. Chopped
fresh or dried material is simmered in
water for about 20 minutes. The
resulting liquid is strained and drunk.
Decoctions are good for extracting
water-soluble constituents such as
tannins, for example in witch hazel bark
(Hamamelis virginiana). Like infusions,
they have long traditional use and are
still the main method of preparation
used in traditional Chinese medicine.

1

Decoctions are the most straightforward
way to prepare tougher plant parts such
as bark, berries, and roots. Chopped
fresh or dried material is simmered in
water for about 20 minutes. The
resulting liquid is strained and drunk.
Decoctions are good for extracting
water-soluble constituents such as
tannins, for example in witch hazel bark
(Hamamelis virginiana). Like infusions,
they have long traditional use and are
still the main method of preparation
used in traditional Chinese medicine.

1

Decoctions are the most straightforward
way to prepare tougher plant parts such
as bark, berries, and roots. Chopped
fresh or dried material is simmered in
water for about 20 minutes. The
resulting liquid is strained and drunk.
Decoctions are good for extracting
water-soluble constituents such as
tannins, for example in witch hazel bark
(Hamamelis virginiana). Like infusions,
they have long traditional use and are
still the main method of preparation
used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Although the author

Although the authors of the original paper replied that the binding
of the oil to the beta-cyclodextrin was intentional, thus providing a
slow release of activity, they failed to address the more difficult problem
of whether therapeutic levels of allyl sulfides were ever attained
(Berthold, Sudhop, and von Bergmann, 1998). In their minds, this
was considered unnecessary because “convincing evidence of lipidlowering
effects of any garlic preparation is still lacking.” No reference
in support of this assertion is provided. The 17 positive of 20 total
studies cited by Lawson are dismissed as lacking rigorous design,
but the defects are not specified. They do concede that “conclusions
of our study apply only to the preparation we used. . . .” Unfortunately,
that was not the way it was reported in the popular press,
which labeled all garlic preparations ineffective for blood lipid reduction.