Our doctors of pharmacy, trained as herbalists, have referenced rigorously selected plants from all over the world, produced according to precise specifications to guarantee optimal quality in terms of active ingredients. Our medicinal plants are unprocessed and quality-controlled at every stage of production. Each batch of medicinal plants is of consistent quality, and is not blended from different origins. Careful drying and storage of medicinal plants guarantees impeccable quality. The constant renewal of our stock of medicinal plants guarantees maximum freshness at the best price.
Medicinal plants and herbalism - the trade in them - are rooted in popular healing traditions, based on ancestral uses. 70% of modern pharmacopoeia is derived from the plant world. Medicinal plants can be found in a wide range of products: herbal teas, phytotherapy medicines, food supplements and essential oils. In France, the natural health and beauty market is worth over three billion euros.
The dynamism of this market reflects the aspirations of a segment of the population for treatments perceived as gentler, used for preventive purposes, against minor everyday ailments or as a complement to conventional medicine.
Infusion is the best-known way of using dried plants. It involves pouring simmering water, i.e. just boiling, at a temperature of 80-90°C, over the plant to be infused. Infusion is particularly suitable for fragile plant parts such as flowers and leaves, as well as for plants rich in volatile and aromatic substances (our famous essential oils), which degrade at too high a temperature. That's why we recommend you always cover your infusion: to preserve all the active ingredients.
Infusion time generally varies from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the plant:
The length of infusion also depends on individual tastes, depending on whether you prefer a stronger or milder flavour. A final tip: when filtering, don't forget to squeeze the plant thoroughly, to recover all its active ingredients.
For purists, there's another way to prepare a good infusion. The principle remains the same, but in this case the plants are placed in cold water, then gently heated and the heat turned off before boiling. In this way, the plant is gently rehydrated without being damaged, as it would be if hot water were poured directly over it.
Decoction is the preferred preparation method for the more rigid, fibrous parts of the plant, such as roots, certain seeds and bark. The principle is slightly different from that of infusion: you place the plants in a pan of cold water, heat gently until boiling, leave to boil for the indicated time, then turn off the heat and leave to infuse, covered. Finally, strain while pressing the pomace, then drink.
The length of decoction depends on the part of the plant used:
Cold maceration is also known as cold infusion. The principle is simple: leave the plants in contact with cold water for 10 to 12 hours, covered, then filter by pressing the pomace. As water is a very poor preservative, plants should not be left to macerate for more than 10 hours, as this may lead to fermentation, and the liquid should be consumed within 24 hours to avoid any risk of microbial development.
Cold maceration can be used on most plants, but is particularly suitable for mucilage-rich plants such as Marshmallow, Gentian, Licorice and Mallow, as well asplants containing heat-sensitive compounds.
Maceration can also take place in vegetable oil, often olive or sunflower, to obtain the famous oily macerates. These can be endlessly adapted by varying the oil used for maceration. It's best, however, to use a stable maceration oil, so as to preserve it for as long as possible. The principle remains much the same, but this time the plants are macerated for several weeks in the sun. The oil is then filtered, and the plants pressed to recover all their active ingredients.
Soin-et-Nature offers a wide range of herbal products to meet your health and well-being needs thanks to the benefits of plants. Here are the categories available:
The herbal products available on Soin-et-Nature offer natural and varied solutions to support your health, while promoting the traditional know-how of medicinal plants.
