Making an herbal tincture - How To

July 15, 2009 - PRLog -- The following is the 'generic' method of making a tincture. Some herbs may be treated differently. This applies especially to the recommended dosage - some may require only 1-2 drops. You will need to research for details, or check with a qualified herbalist.
For bottles, ask your chemist, visit antique stores, or check out your local markets for bric-a-brac items and collectibles. Or advertise in your local paper.

Cover 200g dried or 300g fresh herb with vodka or rum in a bottle, seal the bottle and leave for a about 2 weeks, shaking the bottle every 2 days or so. Put a piece of cloth inside a sieve and pour the liquid through, pressing down to extract as much of the liquid as possible. Discard the solid matter. Pour the tincture into dark bottles, seal and label. A tincture has a much stronger action than an infusion or a decoction. The usual dosage is 5ml 2-3 times a day diluted in 25ml water or fruit juice.


I just took an herbalism class. This is how simply we made a digestive (bitter) tincture:
We each choose the fresh herbs we wanted to use from the ones offered. We stuffed them into a small canning jar, we covered the herbs with out choice of either brandy or vodka (make sure its at least 25% alcohol), then we let it sit for 2 weeks, and we shake it once a day. after 2 weeks you strain it, and then just store it in the jar. The alcohol is a preservative, so you are good for a few years. Depending on how sensitive your body is, you may only use a few drops or a teaspoon.


here's the thing about making tinctures - not all herbs are the same. Some constituents in plants are only water soluble. Some constituents are only alcohol soluble. Some are water and alcohol soluble. Some need to be tinctured fresh, some need to be tinctured dry. So, the simpler's method of covering herb with alcohol and letting it sit is good for SOME herbs, but not ALL herbs. I recommend 2 books if you want to know more details: Making Plant Medicien by Richo Cech and The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook by James Green. These books cover tinctures, glycerites, infusions, syrups, succus, etc. Really good!

Purchase herbs or tinctures online   http://www.ndakinna.org/Tradingpost/herbs.htm

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Selling Native American crafts online. We also do healing work and sell Medicinal herbs, tinctures, salves, syrups and more via our website http://www.redfoxtradingpost.com