| The philosophy behind tincture is to | | | | You will need 7-10 ounces of chopped |
| capture the spiritual and physical | | | | fresh herbs for every quart of vodka, |
| essence of the plant. This is done by | | | | brandy or rum. I prefer to use fresh |
| using the power of ethyl alcohol to | | | | herbs when making my tinctures. When |
| dissolve and preserve the herb in | | | | using powdered herbs, I use 4 ounces of |
| question. | | | | herbs to one pint of liquid. If you are |
| The substance used to extract the herbs | | | | making a tincture from bitter herbs it |
| is known as the menstrum. The herbs you | | | | is best to use rum as it will mask the |
| are tincturing are known as the mark. | | | | taste of the herbs. To make a |
| Tincturing will extract and preserve | | | | non-alcoholic tincture use distilled |
| both the water-soluble and | | | | water, glycerol or vinegar. Keep in mind |
| alcohol-soluble properties of an herb. | | | | that if you use vinegar the tincture |
| In the interest of taking a more | | | | will have to be refrigerated. |
| involved stance in their health, many | | | | Put your herbs in the mason jars and |
| people are turning to homemade tinctures | | | | then pour the liquid over them so that |
| made from fresh or dried herbs. | | | | it comes up to about an inch above the |
| Tinctures have proven to be more | | | | herbs. Seal tightly and label the jars |
| powerful and longer lasting than dried | | | | then put them in a very dark, warm area. |
| herbs. Dried herbs can get moldy or be | | | | Keeping them in a paper bag has worked |
| eaten by insects, tinctures do not. | | | | well for me. You will have to shake the |
| Tinctures will keep up to two years and | | | | jar everyday, several times a day if you |
| keep their potency if stored properly. | | | | can mange it. |
| Making your own tinctures will save you | | | | At first check the solution daily to |
| quite a bit of money. If you purchase | | | | make sure the vodka, brandy or rum still |
| tinctures in a retail store you will get | | | | covers the herbs. Let the mixture steep |
| a few ounces whereas if you make it | | | | for at least two weeks and up to three |
| yourself it will yield about a quart. | | | | months. When you reach the allotted |
| When purchasing herbs, make sure you are | | | | waiting period, line a sieve with the |
| buying from a reputable source. Better | | | | cheesecloth or muslin and pour the |
| yet, grow your own herbs to be sure of | | | | liquid thru the sieve into another |
| the highest possible quality. When | | | | bottle. Gather up the ends of the |
| growing your own you can make any number | | | | cheesecloth and squeeze to extract all |
| of combinations to make up your | | | | of the liquid. You can now fill small |
| tinctures. I have also found that when | | | | bottles with droppers with the tincture |
| growing my own herbs I get the most | | | | for ease in use. Be sure to label the |
| enjoyment, knowing not only did I make | | | | jar with the name and the date. |
| the tincture but I grew the herbs. I | | | | The dose is one teaspoon tincture in a |
| become part of the process from | | | | cup of tea, juice or water taken three |
| beginning to end. | | | | times daily. |
| There are several items that you will | | | | There are no right formulas for making |
| need to make your own tinctures. First | | | | tinctures. Experiment with different |
| you need either powdered herbs or fresh | | | | combinations. Be sure you write down |
| cut herbs. Vodka, brandy or rum, 80-100 | | | | the formula so when you come up with a |
| proof to cover the herbs. Mason jars | | | | winning combination you will have it on |
| with lids. Muslin or Cheesecloth that is | | | | file. |
| unbleached. Lastly, labels for the | | | | Here are a few ideas for treating colds. |
| jars. | | | | |