How to Make Your Own Herbal Tinctures

How to Make Your Own Tinctures

Like with most things, the process for making tinctures varies. Some people recommend more or less herb per liquid and even older documents do not conform to one precise set of rules. This means there is a certain degree of flexibility. Phytomedicines (plant medicines) are generally more gentle so some variation is usually very safe.

A tincture is an extraction of chemicals from the plant(s) (mark) using a base (menstruum). Tinctures are preferred in many cases because they are ready to use, easy to use, are assimulated quickly by the body (often in seconds), are easy to carry, and have a long shelf life.

I use three different types of liquid to extract the medicine I need: alcohol, glycerine and vinegar. Here are the processes I use.

Alcohol-based Tinctures

Alcohol is good for extracing waxes, fats, most alkaloids and resins.

Alcohol tinctures are said to last indefinitely although I replace them after 2-6 years to keep a stronger potency medicine on hand. This is especially important for life saving herbs like Shepherd's Purse as the medicines do seem to get weaker with time. For some medicines, like relatively safe pain relievers, I simply use more tincture as it ages.

Most herbalist recommend using fresh, chopped herbs.Since not all of us have those on hand, you can also use dried herbs. You will need more of the fresh herbs and less of the dried herbs. This is because the chemicals in the dried herbs are more concentrated since the water has been removed. I have also used powdered herbs to make my tinctures. Not all of the herb is strained out, so it can be a bit grainy at the bottom, but we shake it before using. It seems to make my tinctures stronger and I prefer this. "Less is best," according to my children.

I put 1 part dried herb or 2 parts fresh herb to 3 parts grain alcohol (35-45% aka 70-90 proof) in a tight sealing jar. Place in the crockpot on low for 4-5 hours. Some crockpot's low settings are too high so you may not be able to use yours. A "Keep Warm" setting if you have it is the best choice. Too hot, and you are killing the properties you are trying to extract.

If you do not have a crockpot you can place the herbs in a clear, sealed jar in a warm, sunny spot and accomplish the same thing over 2 weeks. Some people make their "sunshine tinctures" over 5 days. I do not feel that is long enough, especially in colder weather. Some leave them in the sun for up to 12 weeks. I have never seen a need to go that long myself. When I have tested my medicine, I have seen good effects after 2-3 weeks. Shake each day to mix the herbs in.

You can add Stevia (Sweet Leaf) to help with the taste. The alcohol can be evaporated in a warm cup of tea leaving behind the medicine.

Glycerine-based Tinctures

You need to use food grade USP glycerine. A gallon will make quite a bit of tincture and is worth the investment. (Specifications for food grade glycerin given by the internationally recognized Food Chemicals Codex (FCC)are largely comparable to those given in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). The FDA regulates the purity and quality of USP and FCC glycerine. When I have talked to manufacturers, they have assured me USP is food grade.)

Glycerines have a shorter shelf life ranging from 12 to 24 months. I remake them yearly to maintain potency. Vegetable glycerine has nearly no impact on blood sugar or insulin and is very low in calories (4.3 per gram). It's sweet taste makes the bitter herbs much more platable to young children and is a suitable substitute for those concerned with alcohol consumption. It does have medicinal properties in this diluted form as a emollient and demulcent which simply means it is soothing, softening and moisturizing especially to mucous membranes.

Glycerine needs to be thinned with water. I thin it 1:1 with water. The rest of the process is the same as the alchohol based tincture. 1 part dried herb or 2 parts fresh herb to 3 parts glycerine/water mixture in a tight sealing jar.

Place in the crockpot on low. Some crockpot's low settings are too high so you may not be able to use yours. A "Keep Warm" setting if you have it is the best choice. Too hot, and you are killing the properties you are trying to extract. Heat for 4-5 hours.

Vinegar-based Tinctures

Apple cider vinegar has many medicinal properties and makes a good base for extracting herbs. I would personally not use distilled white vinegar for medicine making.

I use 3 parts vinegar to 1 part dried herb or 2 parts fresh herb. The rest of the process is the same as the alchohol based tincture.

Storage

Store your tinctures in an amber or blue colored bottle. I recycle and sterilize A-1 Steak Sauce bottles as well as Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce bottles. Amber bottles can be pricey, so it is best to find something you can reuse. I have also had a hard time finding amber bottles large enough to store enough tincture for our family's size.

For dry herb storage, I use glass quart sized jars (recycled canning and spaghetti sauce jars) with tight fitting lids. I store them in a dark, cool cabinet.

For capsules, I store them in recycled pill containers with the labels removed. ALWAYS CLEARLY LABEL YOUR HERBS!

Just because it is natural does not mean you should take usage lightly. Herbs are medicine to be used with knowledge and wisdom.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN THE TINCTURE IS DONE? Smell, taste, sight. You will smell, taste and see the herb in the liquid. The stronger the smell and taste and the darker the color...the more herb. It is very important to LEARN your herbs through these senses. That will also enable you to test the quality of herbs you buy in bulk.