Tincture Making 101

Way back when butter was churned and clothes were sewn by hand conveniences like Wal-greens ,medical clinics and an abundance of medicine choices were non-existent. People relied on nature to provide them with various plants,herbs,barks,flowers, and seeds that could be used by herbalist or regular people to create medicines to treat different ailments. One such way they would make medicines, was to make herbal tinctures. Herbal tinctures are a mixture of different herbs and an alcohol such as, vodka or gin. You also can mix your herbs with vinegar if alcohol doesn't suit your fancy.

Are herbal tinctures safe?

Herbs usually can be found in a number of teas that are sold at your local grocery store ,but with any plant you must know what it is before you try and consume it. Another factor to consider with herbal tinctures is that herbs increase potency with time so a few drops when you need it goes a long way instead of downing the whole bottle.

Where can I buy herbal tinctures?

If you are not ready to venture out in the herbal world and make your own bottles of tinctures then your in luck.  Herbal tinctures are still being manufactured and sold in a number of different alternative health food stores around the country. However,  the ones sold in stores do not contain any alcohol and aren't as strong.

This is a couple of tincture recipe that we tried a couple of weeks ago.

This is our hops (fyi Hops is used to make beer so your already drinking an herb!) and ginseng root .

Tincture Recipes

Deep Sleep Tincture  ( this is one of the ones we made)
A natural remedy for you insomniacs with love

• 1 part valerian root
• 1/2 part hops
• 1/4 part lavender 
• 80 proof alcohol (vodka or gin will do)

To make the tincture

1. chop the herbs really well ,Place the finely chopped herbs in a clean glass jar.
2. Pour enough alcohol over  the herbs to cover them by 2-3 inches, and then seal the jar with a secure lid. If the alcohol amount decreases over the course of 2 days, you may add more alcohol to the jar and then reseal.
3.Place the jar in a warm, sunny spot and let the herbs soak for 4-6 weeks.
4. Strain the herbs from the liquid. Pour the liquid into a clean dark colored jar and store. Alcohol based herbs will keep for many years.

To use

-Take 1 teaspoon an hour or so before bed and another right at bedtime. You may dilute the solution with juice or water.

Now you tell us. What are some herbal remedies that you use at home?