Tincture
- Preparation method
- 4 steps
- 45 herbs prepared this way
Tinctures are made by soaking an herb in alcohol. This encourages the active plant constituents to dissolve, giving tinctures a relatively stronger action than infusions or decoctions. They are convenient to use and last up to two years. Tinctures can be made using a jug and a jelly bag, instead of a wine press. Although mainly used in European, American, and Australian herbal medicine, tinctures play a part in most herbal traditions.
Quantity
200 g dried or 300 g fresh herb chopped into small pieces to 1 quart (1 litre) alcohol - vodka of 35-40% alcohol is ideal, although rum hides the taste of bitter or unpalatable herbs.
Steps
- Place the herb in a large, clean glass jar and pour on the alcohol, ensuring that the herb is covered. Close and label the jar. Shake well for 1-2 minutes and store in a cool dark place for 10-14 days, shaking the jar every 1-2 days.
- Set up the wine press, placing a muslin or nylon mesh bag securely inside. Pour in the mixture and collect the liquid in the jug.
- Slowly close the wine press, extracting the remaining liquid from the herbs until no more drips appear. Discard the leftover herbs.
- Pour the tincture into clean, dark glass bottles using a funnel. When full, stopper with a cork or screw top and label the bottles.
Traditional amounts
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person.
Take 1 tsp (5 ml) 2 - 3 times a day diluted in 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp (25 ml) of water or fruit juice.
Storage
Store in sterilized, dark glass bottles in a cool dark place for up to 2 years.
Put it to use
Herbs traditionally prepared this way
12 of 45 herbs whose traditional preparation text names this method.
Agrimony (agrimonia eupatoria)
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Damiana (Turnera diffusa)
Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Olive (Olea europaea)
Prickly ash (Rutaceae)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Senna (Cassia senna)
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Keep exploring
Related methods
Where to next
Find an herb to try this with
Browse the free A-Z, or start from a body system and work back to the plants used for it.
Every preparation page, herb page and search result stays free.