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| How to make a tincture | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 4 2011, 02:41 PM (530 Views) | |
| yass | Apr 4 2011, 02:41 PM Post #1 |
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Tinctures Another popular way of making herbal medicines is to produce a tincture. Used for herbs that require a solvent stronger than water to release their chemical constituents, a tincture is a herb extracted in alcohol, glycerine or vinegar. Tinctures can be added to hot or cold water to make an instant tea or mixed with water for external use in compresses and foot baths. The advantages of tinctures are that they have a long shelf life, they're available for use in a pinch, and you can add tinctures to oils or salves to create instant healing ointments. With common kitchen utensils and very little effort, you can easily prepare suitable tinctures. First, clean and pick over fresh herbs, removing any insects or damaged plant material. Remove leaves and flowers from stems, and break roots or bark into smaller pieces. Of course, you can use dried herbs too. Cut or chop the plant parts you want to process or chop in a blender or food processor. Cover with drinking alcohol. The spirits most commonly used are 80 to 100 proof Vodka or Everclear (grain alcohol). Some herbs, such as ginger and cayenne, need a higher alcohol content to extract their constituents. With other herbs, such as dandelion and nettles, you do not need to use as much alcohol. Make sure the alcohol covers the plants because plant materials exposed to air can mold or rot. This is especially important if you use fresh herbs. Store the jar at room temperature out of sunlight, and shake the jar every day. After three to six weeks, strain the liquid with a kitchen strainer, cheese cloth, thin piece of muslin or a paper coffee filter. Even when you've managed to strain out every last bit of plant material, sometimes more particles miraculously appear after the tincture has been stored. There is no harm is using a tincture that contains a bit of solid debris. Tinctures will keep for many years without refrigeration. Because the usual dosage of a tincture is 15 to 30 drops, you receive enough herb to benefit from it's medicinal properties with very little alcohol. If you are alergic to alcohol - or simply don't wish to use it - try making vinegar-and-glycerine based tinctures. They dissolve plant constituents almost as effectively as spirits. (glycerine is available at most pharmacies). http://www.liferesearchuniversal.com/nature2.html Other resources http://longlifehappylife.com/2010/04/how-to-make-an-herbal-tincture/ http://www.howtodothings.com/health-fitness/how-to-make-an-herbal-tincture-properly |
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