Originally published August 24 2010
Herbal Remedies: Make Your Own Tincture
by Dianna Dill
(NaturalNews) Herbal remedies are age-old, natural cures that date back into prehistory. The herbal tincture is among the most popular of all these natural remedies. An herbal tincture is a therapeutic liquid extract that is obtained from fresh or dried herbs. It is a highly-concentrated solution of medicinal compounds in an alcoholic or aqueous solvent.
Making an Herbal Tincture
Tincturing is a simple, effective method for extracting the medicinally active chemicals from an herb. You can make your own high-quality tincture at home fairly inexpensively. The basic ingredients required are some fresh or dried herbs and a high-quality solvent such as vodka or grain alcohol.
Things You Need
Fresh or dried herbs of your choice
80-proof vodka, rum or brandy
Glass jar with tight-fitting lid
Muslin or cheesecloth, unbleached
Dark-colored glass bottle
Labels
Instructions
1. Fill two thirds of the jar with the herbs. Add the alcohol, filling the jar almost all the way to the top. Leave about one inch at top to serve as headroom.
2. Stir the jar contents to get rid of any trapped air bubbles, which can cause spoilage, and to mix the herbs and alcohol thoroughly.
3. Cover and seal the jar tightly. Shake the jar contents thoroughly for about one minute. Label and date it clearly.
4. Put the jar in a warm, dark place to let the herbs soak or macerate for the next three to six weeks (the longer the better). Placing it in a paper bag can work just as well.
5. Shake the jar vigorously once or twice a day during this period, checking to make sure that the herb material remains covered in alcohol. Add more alcohol as needed.
6. After three to six weeks, strain out the herb material using cheesecloth, muslin or a coffee filter. You may need to strain the tincture two or three times to get all of the herb material out of the tincture. Wring or squeeze out every last drop possible from herb material.
7. Pour the tincture into a dark glass bottle. Label and date the bottle and store it in a dark, cool place.
8. To use your tincture, dilute one teaspoon of tincture in at least one-quarter cup of water. You can, for example, dilute it in a cup of warm tea or a glass of juice.
An Herb at a Time
Make your first tincture with a single herb before you try different herbal combinations. Once you have made a number of single-herb tinctures, you can then blend them two or more in different proportions. You can then prepare a tincture from a combination of fresh or dried herbs.
Resources
"The Herbal Home Remedy Book;" Joyce A Wardell; 1998
http://www.sagemountain.com/the-formulary/ma...
The Australasian College of Health Sciences: Herbal Tinctures
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:9c...
About the author
The Armchair Herbalist is a copywriter, turned insurance agent, turned freelance writer and published author. She has written numerous health- and business-related articles and eBooks for Demand Studios, Suite101, Bright Hub and LovetoKnow. She also writes for www.TopHomeRemedies.com, an alternative health website.
She is a self-professed armchair herbalist, and authored the book: 101 Herbal Tea Remedies: Healing Infusions and Decoctions from Nature's Own Pharmacy.
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