We now know that tea is not really tea, it is a health myth. Real Tea is only that which is made with Tea Leaves. Boiling an herb in water is called a Decoction, and this is the proper way to do it.
I used to boil water, then put the herb or tea bag in the mug with the water, let it steep for 20 minutes...done. That's called an infusion. This method is suitable for some low density herbs but it's not the best. Besides the fact that these pre-made "teas" are not very strong because most of them are a mix of 5-10 different herbs. This way of making it actually does more harm than good. No wonder why people have such a bad perception of herbs, because they DON'T work, only as a result of improper use.
Boiling water by itself turns it toxic and unstable. Water forms around things. To have water form around the herb, put the herb in with the water. Let them boil together. The water stays structured this way.
Now, to get the true benefit of the herb it is best to get your own separately and use the whole herb. You can get each one by the ounce, then you can mix them and include whatever type you want depending on your purpose, whether it's for relaxation, digestion, cleansing or just antioxidants.
Let the herbs boil for as long as possible. Twenty minutes is not enough time to get all the nutrients out for a lot of herbs. Maybe for a small pre-made bag of "tea" it is, but not if you make a big pot like I do. The minimum time for an average to large size pot of herbs is 1-3 hours at least. And for tougher herbs like mushrooms and bark, 5 hours to a day. You will see how much time is enough by how fast the water becomes clear. Even after boiling for this long you will still probably be able to use the same herbs 2-3 times in a row.
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