These are herbal tinctures-in-process! Aren't they beautiful? The herbal chemicals and constituents are being extracted into the solvent.
What is a Tincture? And Why Bother?
Tinctures are essentially very concentrated liquid herbal extracts. They are also quite simple to make and very easy to take as well.
I love and believe in taking herbal tinctures because you are getting the important plant chemicals that work for specific purposes quickly into your body. For example, one popular tincture I make combines an herb with expectorant properties with another herb with demulcent properties for an herbal creation that heals and soothes your respiratory system while at the same time opening up your lung and sinus passages.....naturally!
And the best thing of all....there are fewer side effects using herbs (I have personally experienced none after working with many many herbs and tinctures) than taking over the counter medications. I believe the reason is that God made plants in a whole form, with all parts working together to serve a purpose. Tincturing herbs is a process in which most of the important chemical constituents are extracted, and our bodies respond perfectly! It's nature!
Using herbal tinctures is only one way to use the power of herbs for your health. In subsequent posts, I'll be exploring other ways to use herbs, including tea blends, making pills, making candy, and more!
This is very important: Medicinal herbs can be very powerful. Always do your research before using an herb for health reasons. And if you are pregnant, nursing, or on medications, you should definitely check with your medical doctor.
Here is how you make a simple single herb tincture:
Step One:
1. Choose your herb! You can use fresh herbs, however, I prefer to use freshly dried (from my garden or the nearby mountain or desert areas) or quality organic dried herbs from reputable sources. If you use fresh herbs, there is moisture involved, and that opens the door to spoilage, mold, and other issues. I go for the dry herbs! Leaves and flowers tincture the most easily and take less time than roots and berries. I grind roots and berries slightly so that it is easier for the solvent (see step 3) to do its work.Step Two:
2. Pour a generous amount (depending on the herb, I generally use a 1:3 ratio, or one-third of a jar) into a Mason jar. This is the folk method, or simpler's method. Some herbalists use specific ratios such as 1:3 or 1:4 or even 1:5. A 1:3 ratio simply means they are using 1 part herb to 3 parts solvent (see step 3). If you purchase commercial tinctures, sometimes you will see the ratios on the label. A lower herb to solvent ratio will mean you may have to take more tincture.Step Three:
3. Fill within an inch of the top with a high quality high-proof alcohol, at least 80 proof. You can use brandy, rum, whiskey, or vodka among others. I like to use vodka because I like to experience the pure plant taste, and vodka is generally without a strong flavor. Some herbalists like to use extremely high proof alcohol, however, I feel once you reach the 80 proof mark, you are getting the herbal parts you need. Plus, the taste is definitely affected even more by the higher proof alcohols.**Note: There are other solvents you can use to tincture herbs, most notably, raw apple cider vinegar or vegetable glycerin. However, these are not as strong a solvent as alcohol, so you will not get as much of the herbal benefit using one of these solvents. The other side is that some people feel they are better for children or people with alcohol sensitivities.
Rosalee de la Foret, one of my favorite herbalists, says this about the difference in solvents in her post – What’s Chemistry Got To Do With It.
- Alcohol – alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, resins
- Glycerine – tannins, some minerals, trace minerals, alkaloids, and acids
- Vinegar – alkaloids, minerals, trace minerals
So you can see that alcohol is by far the strongest solvent for extracting the herbal constituents to help your body.
Glycerine has a sweet taste, so kids seem to like it better. However, once again, you are not extracting all the herb parts.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) with the "mother" is unpasteurized apple cider vinegar and is sometimes used in combination with glycerine. ACV has additional health benefits, however, you are not extracting all the herb parts.
Step Four:
4. Herbalists have different theories about the next part: Infusing the herbs over time. Some herbalists take the jar and place it in a dark closet for several weeks. Others, myself included, believe in placing my jars in a sunny window and shaking them daily for several weeks. The reason for the sun: I feel there is an energy generated by the sun that adds so much to the tincture. I shake the bottles daily because that action makes sure all the herbs are being used and none is sticking to the bottom. I generally mark my tinctures for about four weeks out, then check. If the herb is fully macerated (used), then I will decant... or I may choose to leave them processing for another two to four weeks. I have left some tinctures processing for 12 weeks with no negative repercussions.Always mark your tincturing bottles: Type of herb(s), date, solvent used (if you use different types), and the amounts of each herb used.
Step Five:
5. Once you feel the herb is spent, strain out the herb parts. I use a very fine mesh strainer because I like my tinctures as clear and pure as possible. Sometimes I will even strain them twice, or use fine cheesecloth as well as the strainer.Step Six:
6. Pour into a bottle! I use bottles with droppers. The droppers hold the same amount of liquid, in general, so you can be sure of dosage no matter how many actual ounces the bottle holds. I use 1 ounce, 2 ounce, and 4 ounce bottles.Step Seven:
7. If you have a large amount, you can also pour into a larger bottle and store in a cool, dark area.Additional Information:
Tinctures will last for years. There have been incidences of people finding old tinctures over a decade old that are still good. However, for basic safety, I recommend using within a year or two.How Much Should You Take?
Here is some basic information about how much to take, although depending on the herbs, this may differ some. Always do your own research.Basically, a dose is considered between one complete dropper full and three complete droppers full. People's bodies are all different and we have different tolerances for substances. Always start with the lower dose, unless you have reason to believe you need to use the higher dose. Some herbs can be used as often as necessary (Mullein), and others (like Yohimbe) you need to be very careful about. Know your herbs, and if in doubt, go small.
Also, some people ask about the alcohol---in fact, I have had friends joke with me that it's actually the alcohol doing all the work. NOT so! You are taking such a small amount of alcohol when using tinctures properly that it should not be a cause for concern (unless you are giving to a child or an adult with alcohol issues).
**One full dose of three droppers full is just a tiny bit more than 1/2 a teaspoon. So you can see, you are not ingesting a great deal of alcohol at all.
For children (and even small adults): You will want to adjust the dosage accordingly. For young children, they will only be taking drops as opposed to droppers full.
The Bottom Line:
Tincturing your own herbs is fun! When you tincture your own herbs, you are engaging in a time-honored process of staying healthy. And, tinctures are one of the best and most popular ways of using herbs to help enhance your life!If you would like to check out some of my prepared tinctures, please visit my online shop:
www.ColdCreekNaturals.etsy.com
If you are interested in purchasing quality herbs to make your own tinctures and blends, visit my online supply shop:
www.CCNHerbalSupply.etsy.com
I am very proud of my shops, and I make sure that my products are of the highest quality. My tinctures, especially, are my pride and joy. They are made in small batches, process for at least 4 to 6 weeks in a sunny window in the Southern Nevada Mountain sunshine.
Additional Resources:
Medicinal Herbs by Rosemary Gladstar. Copyright 2012. Storey Publishing.
Disclaimer: The information in this article, elsewhere on my blog, in my shop sites, in conversations, and on labels is for informational purposes only and not meant to cure, treat, diagnose, or prevent any medical condition. Please see a medical professional for concerns. I simply provide my own personal advice based on experience and study for ways to live a healthy and natural way of life. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
No comments:
Post a Comment