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