Tinkering with Tinctures ~ Folk Tincture Method and Recipes

By Amy Lupton

There are several different methods of getting the most out of herbs.

Each part of the plant can be used for different things and most of the time, it depends on what you’re using it for.

If you are using herbs on skin for a rash, bite or wound, you will likely make a salve, oil or poultice.

If you want something for digestion or acid reflux, you’d make a tea or tisane.

While herbs can be eaten (and we love kitchen herbs and powdered herbs for supplementation), some herbs are best extracted with a solvent (water, alcohol, vinegar or glycerin). Some of the fibrous plant material might otherwise just pass through the body, and extracting them draws out the medicinal value out of your herbs and stores it for a long time.

Tinctures

Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts that have alcohol as the solvent.

Tinctures are efficient in that they are can deliver herbal remedies quickly (the liver prioritizes this when alcohol is present).

A few points about tinctures in particular:

1. All tinctures are extracts, but not all extracts are tinctures. Alcohol must be the solvent used to extract the herbal properties for it to be called a tincture. If you are using vinegar, glycerin, honey, oil, only water (water used to dilute alcohol is fine), or any menstruum (solvent) other than alcohol, your preparation is an extract, but it is not a tincture.

2. 80 proof liquor (or 40% alcohol) is considered standard and acceptable for most tinctures, but 40% is needed to make sure there is not molding in the tincture plant material or vessel. 80 proof is typically used on fresh and dried herbs that don’t have a high moisture content (such as bay, dill, fennel, sage, thyme etc). 80 proof vodka plus 190 proof alcohol (aka Everclear type, use a 1:1 ratio) is a higher alcohol content mix that helps extract more volatile plant compounds, especially when using herbs with a higher moisture content (such as oregano, parsley, basil, cilantro, mint, and sage). 190 proof alcohol is typically used for dissolving gums and plant resins found in barks and dried plant matter. Prioritize getting good quality alcohol (such as organic, local where you can see sources, tour the facility etc), as many alcohols are made from leftover, often highly concentrated and pesticide-laden ingredients that contain GMOs, hidden gluten (for those with a gluten sensitivity), and fluoride/tap water contaminants.

3. Tinctures can contain fresh or dried herbs, flowers, leaves, roots, bark, berries, and dried fungi. Dried herbs can produce a result that is more consistent (because of the absence of water), something to keep in mind if plan on making repeats of the same formula or herb. Tinctures have a much longer shelf life than teas, tonics and infusions. They are very shelf-stable and with proper storage, herbal tinctures can last for up to five years at full potency, and sometimes longer. Tinctures are a great way to draw the medicinal value out of your herbs and store it for long periods of time.

4. Tinctures can be taken directly by mouth (under the tongue they absorbed into the bloodstream quickly), diluted in tea, juice or water (sparkling or still). They can be added to syrups & foods, used in skin application (i.e. black walnut & yarrow, among others, can be applied directly to the skin or mixed in with a carrier oil or lotion). Tinctures are also great when used in animal care. They are safe for children (parents use discretion here), and even pregnant/nursing women. Tinctures can be used to support a wide range of wellness goals and ailments including digestion, immune-boosting, hormone balance, sleep, relaxation and emotional health. Common dosages range from a few drops to a few droppers full. Tinctures being highly concentrated can help when not a lot of fluid or substance can be consumed.

5. PSA- Everyone and every plant is bio individual. A tincture can range in strength, dosage and variability according to the plant, season, climate, location, amount & frequency taken, different soil composition, and who is ingesting, what time of day etc. Tinctures made from adaptogenic and immune-boosting herbs & mushrooms (which often require double extraction), usually need be taken continuously over a period of several weeks before their therapeutic benefits are apparent. It is ALWAYS best to use your God-given discretion and beautiful brain to do what works best for you. Herbalists and holistic practitioners use and understand this concept, so its always best to consult them. They love helping you live and feel your best.

6. Tinctures are ideal to extract alkaloids, sugars, enzymes, volatile oils, resins, minimal minerals & vitamins, but not herbs that contain mucilage, like marshmallow. If you are wanting to extract a high mineral herb, such as oat straw, a glycerite or infusion might be better served. It takes time and practice to know what herbs are best for which extraction method, there are great books and articles to help you navigate this topic. Don’t worry, we will give you some recipes below to get started with tincture herbs!

How To Make a Tincture Using the Folk-Method:

The good news is that after reading all that technical information above, actually making a tincture is EASY! :)

It takes minimal equipment, you can choose high quality herbs (especially ones you grow in your garden or get from a local farmers market or trusted herb source).

When you make a tincture at home, is usually costs a fraction of the price you would buy in a store.

Materials Needed:

Knife or herb scissors for harvesting, cutting and preparing fresh or dried herbs
Cutting board and/or mortar and pestle
Canning jar with lid
Fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth or thin dish cloth (such as potato sack cloth)
Funnel
Small tincture bottles (1or 2 oz is standard, dark glass like amber or cobalt), quantity will be according to how big your tincture jar is
Wax paper
Plant material
Alcohol(s) of choice
Optional (small amount of filtered water… to wake up dried herbs)
Labels

Instructions to make a tincture at home:

Select your plant material. If using fresh or dried herbs, it’s best to chop or garble (the process of separating the leaves, flowers, and stem portions and discarding the unwanted parts). Each medicinal herb has its own medicinal part so be sure to research which part you are wanting from your chosen herb. For a tincture made with fresh leaves and flowers, finely chop or grind clean plant material (the goal is to expose as much surface area as possible).
Put plant material in jar. The ratio is up to you, but ultimately you want to make sure the herbs are completely covered with alcohol. A little bit of finesse with herb to alcohol ratios will result in the higher potency or better extraction of tinctures (see number two above and recipes below). Many recipes call for about half of the jar filled with plant material, although filling a jar about 3/4 of the way with fresh plant matter can be a good practice. Never pack the jar too tightly.
Place a square piece of wax paper at the top of the jar then seal the jar with a lid. Doing this protects the tincture from any chemical coating on the lid (there is commonly bpa found on the inside of canning lids that alcohol can readily break down).
Give the jar a shake to coat all the plant material with alcohol. I always like to say a mini prayer or thought of gratitude at this point to send my good intention into this being the best tincture ever!
Store in a dark, cool area for about 4-6 weeks (a cupboard or pantry is a great place). Visit the tincture every few days, giving it a gentle shake (and a loving intention or prayer).
When ready to strain, pour plant material through the strainer or cloth into jar, then gently squeezing the herbs through the cloth to wring out the rest of the liquid.
Optional: Can store finished liquid in a jar and let settle overnight. Can strain again through a coffee filter to remove any fine plant material.
Transfer the tincture into dark glass bottles using a funnel. Make sure to label with date, type of tincture made, and ingredients used. Store in a cool, dark area.

What Tincture Should I Make?

Ok, now that we know how to make a tincture, which are most useful to have around? Well, it depends on what is needed in your home, whether blends will serve you well, or single herb tinctures to combine together and make many blends according to what immediate need arises.

We love to grow herbs, and usually grow ones that will meet our needs and what are common ailments are.

It’s also a common folk knowing that wild herbs you need will pop up around you regularly. Such as dandelion, nettle, or chickweed. :) If you look close enough, you’ll usually find a biological correlation of what you commonly see or grows around in abundance.

Below are a few of our favorite single herb & herb blend tinctures to have on hand. We encourage you to get creative, research what pertains to you, your family and community around you. As there are as many herbs, we have concentrated our focus on things that grow readily in this area, and are commonly safe in children.

A few resources we love where you learn more are:

The Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de Foret
Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide by Rosemary Gladstar
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Thomas Easley & Steven Horne

Single Herb Tincture Recipes:

Note: Ratios will be listed as 1:2, 1:4 etc with first number amount of herb and second is alcohol. GRAS means generally recognized as safe. One dropper full is equal to about 1/2 tsp, or 30 drops. When referring to parts, choose measurement such as 1 tablespoon.

Lemon Balm

1:2 Good for depression, relieves stress, help for headache pain, enhance well being, antiviral properties, treats flu and other viral illness. Great for promoting sleep, and even calm and upset stomach. Dilute in water or tea for children, makes wonderful glycerite (1:1) as well. GRAS for children, pregnant, bf women. Start with one dropper for full adults, 1/2 children under 14, 4 drops toddler over two. Shelf Stable 3-4 years.

Dandelion

1:2 Roots work best for tinctures, although the whole plant can be used. Does contain trace amounts of iodine and latex in plant, so if sensitive to these avoid use. GRAS in children (in small quantities). Take caution in pregnancy, especially first trimester (Dandelion leaf is a better choice for pregnancy & bf). Good for digestion, constipation, liver health and high liver enzymes, detox, eczema, joint stiffness, overall tonic health. Soak tincture for 6-8 weeks. Shelf Stable 5 years.

Ginger Root

1:2 Aids digestion, immune system, reduces motion sickness, clears congestion, increases circulation, reduces fever and chills, alleviates headaches, immune booster. GRAS in children, pregnancy and bf women. If on blood thinner, take caution. 4-6 weeks for dried ginger, 4 weeks for fresh. 1 dropper full adult when needed, 1/2 children under 14, 4 drops for toddlers. Use when needed.

Blend Herb Tinctures:

Immune Blend

1:2 General immune system balancer blend. Can be taken at onset of illness, or general usage to keep immune system response intact. Needs to be cycled if taken over a long period of time. One week on, one week off, two weeks on, two weeks off, etc. Can also use situationally.

For acute use: Adults: One dropper full three times a day. Children: 1/3 dropper full three times a day (over two years). Best for children diluted in water (can add juice or honey as sweetener). GRAS for acute use in pregnancy, bf, children. Long term use, use own discretion.

1/2 part yarrow, 1 part chamomile, 1/2 part elderflower, 1 part dried elderberries (if you’re concerned about using uncooked berries, you can gently heat and stir berries in a small saucepan for about 10 to 20 minutes before adding them to the infusing jar), 1 part rose hips, 1 part ginger, 1 part echinacea, 1 part lemon balm, 1/2 part thyme. Cayenne (optional, not recommended for children, bf women)

Sweet Dreams Blend

1:2 Good for family use, general restlessness or sleepless nights. Great as a dropper in warm tea, or 1/4 cup tart cherry juice, 1/4 cup pineapple juice as a sleep tonic. One dropper for adults, 1/2 for children. GRAS for children, bf women.

1 part catnip, 1 part chamomile, 1 part lemon balm, 1/2 lavender, 1 part passionflower. Optional: 1 part stevia, 1 part hops, valerian (omit hops and valerian for pregnant women, children).

Digestion Blend

1:2 For general digestive aid, great for after dinner to help settle stomach and stimulate digestion, indigestion, etc. GRAS for children, pregnant women (use dandelion leaf instead of root), and bf. 1 dropper for adults, 1/2 for children under 14, 4 drops for toddlers.

1 part peppermint, 1 part ginger root, 1/2 fennel, 1/2 dandelion root, 1 part lemon balm, 2 parts orange peel, 1 part cinnamon.