Herbs can be used as a way to heal many ailments in the body. Many utilize herbs in cooking and in tea blends, but tinctures are another effective way of incorporating herbs into our lives to heal naturally. So, what exactly are tinctures? Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts made by soaking herbs in a menstruum, which is a substance or solvent that dissolves a solid or holds it in suspension. This process allows for the vitamins and medicinal compounds from the different parts of plant material to be extracted. This can include soaking leaves, barks, roots, flowers, berries, etc., over the course of several weeks and allowing for those “active” ingredients to separate from the plant matter and infuse into the solvent.
The most common menstruums or solvents for tinctures are vinegar, vegetable glycerin, and alcohol. When choosing your base remember the following:
● Vinegar base- it is recommended to use raw apple cider vinegar; these tinctures have a shelf life of about a year maximum
● Vegetable Glycerin base- 100% food grade vegetable glycerin for tinctures; these tinctures have a shelf life of about 1-2 years
● Alcohol case- at least 80 proof alcohol for tincture base, as you need to take into consideration the plant’s water-soluble ingredients; these tinctures can last 5+ years in many cases
**Depending upon your herb/plant choice they may need to be harvested and prepared in
different ways, so always keep that in mind before you get started**
Personally, I prefer to use alcohol based tinctures, as it has been the most effective in my own practices and has the longest shelf life. The ratio for alcohol based tinctures varies depending on if you are using fresh plant material or dried. It's a 1:2 ratio for fresh herbs (1 part herb to 2 parts alcohol) and 1:5 ratio for dried herbs (1 part herb to 5 parts alcohol). Mason jars work great for this! Once you have your tincture assembled in the jar make sure you seal it and don’t forget to label it and write the date on it.
Your jar should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place (you want to limit light exposure) for 6-8 weeks to give the alcohol time to absorb the compounds from the plant material. You also want to make sure that you shake the jar daily to help the absorption process along.
Once your tincture is ready, you will want to strain it (you may need to do this a couple times), in order to remove all the plant matter. Dropper bottles are great for storing tinctures in. You always want to limit light exposure, so when choosing the type of dropper bottle you want, amber bottles are one of the better options out there.
Tinctures can be taken sublingually (under the tongue) or added to beverages. As tinctures are used as a form of medicine, remember to check with your medical professional before incorporating herbs into your life. Especially if you are taking any prescription medications as there is always a risk of interaction. Also remember to safely store your tinctures out of the reach of children.