Definition

A tincture is a concentrated herbal extraction that can be taken internally.  A true herbal tincture uses alcohol (safe to drink) for extraction.  Different parts of plants are used including roots, bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, or sometimes the entire plant.  Either fresh or dried plant material may be used. It is important to know which part of the plant to use and the optimum time for gathering said part, if using fresh (my preference).

 

Alcohol for Extraction

• Alcohol contains both water and alcohol. Both are needed to extract the full spectrum of constituents that a plant has to offer us.  Water (example: making tea) extracts only those compounds that are extractable by water. However, there are other bio-active compounds that require alcohol to break down the cell walls of the plant cells to release those, which are then effectively stored in the alcohol.  Typically, these compounds extracted by alcohol are considered the more medicinal compounds.

• Alcohol is an excellent preservative.  Most tinctures will stay effective for years, perhaps decades, if stored well in a dark, cool place. 

• Many herbalists and herbal companies use 80-proof vodka, which is 40% alcohol.  I prefer 100-proof (50% alcohol) as I feel it pulls out more of the medicinal constituents of the plant.  

• Any drinkable alcohol can be used.  My preference in most instances is vodka, which is clear and flavorless so you can appreciate both the color and taste of the plant.

• It simplifies my tincture making to always use 100 proof alcohol and I'm all about simplifying!

 

Basic Steps

• The most important step is to make certain you are gathering the correct plant.  

• Know which part of the plant to use.  Depending on the plant, it may be the bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, or roots.

• Use a clean glass jar, alcohol of choice, and a tight-fitting lid (if metal will contact the tincture, use wax paper as a barrier).  

• Tear or chop the plant material into tiny pieces and put in the jar. See my suggested quantities below.

• Do not wash the plant as some of the medicinal constituents of a plant are on the surface of the leaves. Don’t wash those off! If there is dirt or dust on the surface, wipe it off.  Do not wash. 

• Fill the jar completely with alcohol and screw the lid on securely.  That’s it!

• I suggest you mark it right away with a label or masking tape.  If you are producing multiple tinctures, they all begin looking alike.  

• Set the jar aside on a counter or shelf and occasionally give it a little shake to encourage even more extraction.

• After 6 to 8 weeks, strain the plant material, squeezing out every bit of moisture you can.  Note: Some herbalists say only 4 weeks is needed. Some of mine have been extracting for several years, so no set rule on how long to let them sit.  I suggest at least 8 weeks.

• Compost the spent plant material and bottle the strained tincture in a glass jar or bottle.  Again, label it.

 

How Much Plant Material to Use

• Leaves and aerial parts: pack jar tightly.

• Flowers: loosely fill the jar with the flowers, tearing thicker flowers into pieces to increase surface area.

• Barks or seeds:  Fill the jar about ¼ full with the shaved bark or seeds.

• Roots – wash dirt off, scrubbing a bit as needed.  Cut into small pieces.  Fill the jar about ¼ full.  Dump out and set aside to dry for a day or two to allow evaporation of the water used for cleaning the roots. Return to same jar and cover with alcohol and lid.

 

When to Gather

• Gather above-ground parts soon after dew has dried.

• If it has rained, wait 2-3 days to

- allow the plant to dry completely.

- build up the constituents present on the surface of the plant again, so important to a complete/effective extraction.

• On a hot summer day, try to gather before noon.

• The different parts of the plant are gathered when the energy of the plant is focused on that part.

• Barks: gather in late winter or early spring, before the leaves emerge.  Use suckers or young branches.

• Leaves: gather while looking vibrant and before flowers form.

• Flowers: gather while young and vibrant, not wilting or spent.

• Roots: after the top of the plant has died back, focusing the energy back into the roots.  I prefer after a hard frost in Minnesota.

 

How to Use Tinctures

• I suggest small doses, typically 1 to 3 drops under the tongue.  Note: that’s drops, not dropperfuls.

• The tincture is then absorbed quickly and completely into the bloodstream, speeding up its absorption and effectiveness.

• Small doses are more effective at gently nudging the body into healthy balance.

 

A Few of My Favorites

• Calendula flowers:  lymph, SAD, wound healer, digestion, so much more!

• Dandelion root:  liver & digestion, skin health, actually supports everything!

• Elderberry:  immune system go-to for prevention and treatment of colds and flu, vision health.

• Lady’s Thumb all aerial parts:  dryness of all sorts, balance hormones, improve digestion, food sensitivity

• Motherwort aerial parts:  heart, physical and emotional, palpitations, blood pressure, broken heart.

• Mullein leaf:  lungs, improve breathing, supports and nourishes the lungs.

• Prickly Ash bark:  sharp, stabbing pain, poor circulation, cold fingers or toes.

• Sage leaves:  antiviral, sore throat, poor digestion, hot flashes.

• Yarrow flowers and upper leaves and stems:  blood - stop bleeding, heal wounds, normalize blood pressure, reduce fever, ease pain.