I have briefly mentioned tinctures in a few of my posts, so I thought it was high time to dedicate an entire post to one of the EASIEST herbal medicines you can make. Tinctures are basically concentrated liquid extracts of herbs and are very potent. They are usually taken by the dropperful and diluted in warm water or juice.
Most tinctures are made with alcohol as the primary solvent or extractant. Though the amount of alcohol used is often very small, many people choose not to use alcohol-based tinctures. Effective tinctures can be made with vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar as well. If you use alcohol for your tinctures, it should be 80 to 100 proof, such as vodka, gin or brandy. Like I said, making tinctures is incredibly easy; all you need are the herbs, the solvent and a jar!
- Chop your herbs finely. Fresh herbs are best for tinctures, but high-quality dry herbs work just as well. Place the herbs in a clean, dry jar.
- Pour in enough of the alcohol/glycerin/vinegar to cover the herbs, and continue pouring until the liquid rises 2-3 inches above the herbs and they are completely submerged. Cover with a tight-fitting lid.
- Place the jar in a warm location and let the herbs soak in the solvent for 4-6 weeks; the longer, the better.
- Shake the bottle daily - this prevents the herbs from packing down on the bottom of the jar.
- Strain the herbs from the solvent using a large stainless steel strainer lined with cheesecloth or muslin. The reserved liquid is now a potent tincture! Rebottle & label, and store in a cool, dry place. The tincture should last indefinitely.
