Making herbal tinctures is the easiest way to extract, concentrate and preserve the medicinal constituants of plants. They can be used as medicine, or as an ingredient in other home-made products like insect repellent or lotions and liniments.
I use tinctures often for a variety of conditions.
Click Read More to see the complete post.
Here are some of my favorites;
A tincture is described as a concentrated liquid extract of plant material. Why tincture an herb? Fresh and even dry herbs have a short shelf life, tincturing not only concentrates the constituents of the herbs, but also preserves them. Tinctures are herbal medicine in fast and easy-to-use form. And they are also portable so you can use them when you are away from home.
The basics of tincture making are very straight forward although you will find slight variations on technique as you research the subject. There are differences based on the specific herb used and each herbalist puts their own unique spin on the process.
The first step on your herbal tincture making adventure will be to gather supplies.
Herbs
Glass jar with tight fitting lid
Alcohol - 100 proof vodka recommended
Nylon jelly bag
Bowl or glass measure cup for decanting
Amber dropper bottle
Amber bottle for storing larger amounts
Fresh herbs are preferred, but some dried herbs can make effective tinctures as well. If you decide to pursue tincture making, you will want to start saving the small glass jars that end up in your recycle bin. Small jars that condiments (like mustard) come in work best. Start your introduction into tincture making with small batches. Once you find the herbs that work best for your family you can make larger quantities.
Alcohol is the solvent (also called menstruum) best suited for most herbs. Vodka that is 100 proof contains 50 percent alcohol and 50 percent water. This is a good balance as part of the plants active ingredients will be water soluble and some will be absorbed by alcohol. If 100 proof is not available, 80 proof can be used as well. Alcohol also allows the body to rapidly absorb the medicinal consituents of the herb.
If you cannot ingest alcohol, other solvents such as vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar can be used. Although they may not be as strong as a tincture made with alcohol they can be effective. Should you decide to use glycerin or apple cider vinegar, research the process as it may be slightly different than alcohol extraction.
I found nylon jelly bags at an Ace Hardware in our home town. I like the nylon as you do not waste the finished tincture by having it absorbed into cotton material. The nylon is also strong so you can twist and squeeze the bag it to get out every last drop.
Proper storage is important to the overall quality of your end product. Look for amber colored glass dropper bottles with glass pipettes. I have found them on Amazon and at Mountain Rose Herbs. You can also save the dark bottles olive oil comes in for storing your larger quantities.
Chop your herbs. The more surface space that is exposed the better the absorption. Denser roots will need more chopping than delicate leaves and flowers. Some herbalist recommend that you place your alcohol and herb mixture in a blender and pulse a few times.
Place herbs in a clean and dry glass jar and fill to the top with your solvent of choice. The ratio of herbs to alcohol can be simple or exact. Some herbalists use a traditional or "simpler's method" by filling a jar about 3/4 full of plant material and then adding the solvent. Make sure to fill the jar to the very top with your solvent. No specific ratio of herb to solvent is followed in the "simpler's method". Other herbalist recommend plant material to solvent ratios for each specific herb. I prefer the traditional method as it makes tincture making less complicated and I have found the resulting product to be effective.
Cover with a tight fitting lid, label with plant name, solvent used, and date. Store the jar at room temperature shaking a bit daily to prevent the herbs from packing down at the bottom of the jar. This is called the "maceration" period. After six weeks the tincture will be ready to strain. Six weeks is the time needed for full extraction of the herb. You don't have to strain it immediately after six weeks, but can leave the herb in the solvent and strain at your convenience.
Strain the tincture by placing the jelly bag in a bowl (or glass measuring cup) and pouring the mixture into the bag. Lift up the bag so the menstrumm can drain into the bowl. Squeeze the bag until all the liquid is in the bowl. Compost the left over plant material (marc).
Pour the finished tincture into glass bottles. If you have used a glass measuring cup this step is easy. Just pour the finished tincture into your bottles, label and screw on the tops. Dropper bottles are great for small quantities and for measuring the dose. Large quantities can be stored in amber bottles with regular screw tops. Dark colored bottles protect the tincture from the damaging effects of light. Opinions vary, but most herbalists believe properly stored tinctures will be effective for 10 years or even longer.
Store your bottles of finished tincture out of sunlight and at room temperature. My handy husband built an apothecary for me by constructing shelves into the sides of the closet that leads to our crawl space. All my dried herbs and tinctures are easily accessible and protected from light.
This is where you will need to do your own research to determine if the herb you plan to use will meet the needs of your situation. The Therapeutic Herb Manual, by Ed Smith provides a list of herbal extracts and their recommended dosage. Most adult dosages according to Mr. Smith are 30 to 40 drops. Rosemary Gladstar, in her book; Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health suggest 1/2 to 1 teaspoon three time daily for adults with chronic conditions. But she also cautions that you need to have knowledge about the herb you are using, its possible side effects, and the state of health of the person using the extract to determine the optimal dose.
Always use the smallest dosage needed to get the desired effect, working up to higher dosages only when necessary.
Please note: The objective of this blog is to raise awareness of alternative ways to achieve wellness and to empower you to take an active role in your health decisions. To accomplish this, you will need to explore these subjects in greater depth and then determine what makes sense for your life. My hope is that this information will inspire you to start your own search into ways to make your life happier, healthier and more fulfilling.
 |
| Start with a glass jar, lid, vodka and herb of choice. |
I use tinctures often for a variety of conditions.
Click Read More to see the complete post.
Here are some of my favorites;
- Feverfew and crampbark for headaches and cramps
- Burdock root for purifying the blood and treating skin conditions
- Dandelion root and yellow dock root for bloating or a sluggish digestive system
- Wormwood for stomach upset
- Licorice root to treat viral conditions and as a synergist to make other herbs more effective
- Cleavers for preventing urininary tract infections
- Lemon balm to take the edge off anxiety
- Echinacea to prevent colds from taking hold
- Motherswort for all things female
- Yarrow, lemon grass, and pennyroyal as insect repellent spray
A tincture is described as a concentrated liquid extract of plant material. Why tincture an herb? Fresh and even dry herbs have a short shelf life, tincturing not only concentrates the constituents of the herbs, but also preserves them. Tinctures are herbal medicine in fast and easy-to-use form. And they are also portable so you can use them when you are away from home.
The basics of tincture making are very straight forward although you will find slight variations on technique as you research the subject. There are differences based on the specific herb used and each herbalist puts their own unique spin on the process.
The first step on your herbal tincture making adventure will be to gather supplies.
Supplies
Herbs
Glass jar with tight fitting lid
Alcohol - 100 proof vodka recommended
Nylon jelly bag
Bowl or glass measure cup for decanting
Amber dropper bottle
Amber bottle for storing larger amounts
Fresh herbs are preferred, but some dried herbs can make effective tinctures as well. If you decide to pursue tincture making, you will want to start saving the small glass jars that end up in your recycle bin. Small jars that condiments (like mustard) come in work best. Start your introduction into tincture making with small batches. Once you find the herbs that work best for your family you can make larger quantities.
Alcohol is the solvent (also called menstruum) best suited for most herbs. Vodka that is 100 proof contains 50 percent alcohol and 50 percent water. This is a good balance as part of the plants active ingredients will be water soluble and some will be absorbed by alcohol. If 100 proof is not available, 80 proof can be used as well. Alcohol also allows the body to rapidly absorb the medicinal consituents of the herb.
If you cannot ingest alcohol, other solvents such as vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar can be used. Although they may not be as strong as a tincture made with alcohol they can be effective. Should you decide to use glycerin or apple cider vinegar, research the process as it may be slightly different than alcohol extraction.
I found nylon jelly bags at an Ace Hardware in our home town. I like the nylon as you do not waste the finished tincture by having it absorbed into cotton material. The nylon is also strong so you can twist and squeeze the bag it to get out every last drop.
Proper storage is important to the overall quality of your end product. Look for amber colored glass dropper bottles with glass pipettes. I have found them on Amazon and at Mountain Rose Herbs. You can also save the dark bottles olive oil comes in for storing your larger quantities.
The Process
Chop your herbs. The more surface space that is exposed the better the absorption. Denser roots will need more chopping than delicate leaves and flowers. Some herbalist recommend that you place your alcohol and herb mixture in a blender and pulse a few times.
Place herbs in a clean and dry glass jar and fill to the top with your solvent of choice. The ratio of herbs to alcohol can be simple or exact. Some herbalists use a traditional or "simpler's method" by filling a jar about 3/4 full of plant material and then adding the solvent. Make sure to fill the jar to the very top with your solvent. No specific ratio of herb to solvent is followed in the "simpler's method". Other herbalist recommend plant material to solvent ratios for each specific herb. I prefer the traditional method as it makes tincture making less complicated and I have found the resulting product to be effective.
Cover with a tight fitting lid, label with plant name, solvent used, and date. Store the jar at room temperature shaking a bit daily to prevent the herbs from packing down at the bottom of the jar. This is called the "maceration" period. After six weeks the tincture will be ready to strain. Six weeks is the time needed for full extraction of the herb. You don't have to strain it immediately after six weeks, but can leave the herb in the solvent and strain at your convenience.
Strain the tincture by placing the jelly bag in a bowl (or glass measuring cup) and pouring the mixture into the bag. Lift up the bag so the menstrumm can drain into the bowl. Squeeze the bag until all the liquid is in the bowl. Compost the left over plant material (marc).
Pour the finished tincture into glass bottles. If you have used a glass measuring cup this step is easy. Just pour the finished tincture into your bottles, label and screw on the tops. Dropper bottles are great for small quantities and for measuring the dose. Large quantities can be stored in amber bottles with regular screw tops. Dark colored bottles protect the tincture from the damaging effects of light. Opinions vary, but most herbalists believe properly stored tinctures will be effective for 10 years or even longer.
Store your bottles of finished tincture out of sunlight and at room temperature. My handy husband built an apothecary for me by constructing shelves into the sides of the closet that leads to our crawl space. All my dried herbs and tinctures are easily accessible and protected from light.
Dosage
This is where you will need to do your own research to determine if the herb you plan to use will meet the needs of your situation. The Therapeutic Herb Manual, by Ed Smith provides a list of herbal extracts and their recommended dosage. Most adult dosages according to Mr. Smith are 30 to 40 drops. Rosemary Gladstar, in her book; Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health suggest 1/2 to 1 teaspoon three time daily for adults with chronic conditions. But she also cautions that you need to have knowledge about the herb you are using, its possible side effects, and the state of health of the person using the extract to determine the optimal dose.
Always use the smallest dosage needed to get the desired effect, working up to higher dosages only when necessary.
Please note: The objective of this blog is to raise awareness of alternative ways to achieve wellness and to empower you to take an active role in your health decisions. To accomplish this, you will need to explore these subjects in greater depth and then determine what makes sense for your life. My hope is that this information will inspire you to start your own search into ways to make your life happier, healthier and more fulfilling.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comments and questions are welcome!