How to Make an Herbal Tincture

Making a tincture is a way of preserving herbs. Making your own herbal tincture is a great, inexpensive way to be in control of your own health. A tincture is not to be mistaken for a "fluid extract", like you find at most health food stores. A fluid extract goes through several extractions and ends up as a very concentrated product. Extracts are taken in a much smaller quantity, as they are 10 times more potent than tinctures.

What you will need:

Herb of choice - dried cut or powdered

Drinking Alcohol, Food grade Glycerin or Vinegar - Any alcohol with a minimum of 80 proof, Vodka, Brandy, Gin or Rum will work.

A jar - A mason jar will work fine

Dark colored glass bottle

Cheesecloth, strainer or press

Choosing a base

When deciding what base to use, you might want to weigh the facts to find which is best for you.

Alcohol base - It can be stored for years, is very potent and is very easy to find at most local stores.

Glycerin base - It does not have as long of a shelf life as alcohol It can be hard to find and is more expensive. But, if used for children the flavor may be more pleasing and it is a good option for those who have an adverse reaction to alcohol. Glycerin needs to be diluted 1:1 in water.

Vinegar base - Is another option for those who do not want to use alcohol. Like glycerin the shelf life of a vinegar base is more limited than an alcohol base. Both have the shelf of about a year.

After you decide on a base follow these instructions to make your own herbal tincture:

1.) Add 1/4 cups of your choice of herb to your jar. The measurement is for a 16 oz. jar. It can be cut in half, for a smaller jar or doubled for a larger jar.

2.) Add 1/2 cups of your choice of a base (measuring is not as important as the fact that the base needs to completely cover the herbs. If the 1/2 cup is not enough to cover, add just enough more to completely cover the herbs.)

3.) Tightly screw on lid and store the jar in a cool dark place.

4.) Shake the jar daily and keep stored for a minimum of 2 weeks. 2 weeks is the minimum to keep the herbs steeping, longer time will produce a slightly stronger tincture. Make sure you mark the jar or write the date it was made, so you know when the 2 weeks are up.

5.) After it has steeped for the time you want, pour the mixture though a cheesecloth, strainer or use a press to remove the bulk part of the herbs. If you are using powdered herbs, use a fine cloth or filter for the best straining.

6.) Once it is strained, pour the liquid tincture into a dark colored bottle, to store. It is best to keep it stored in a dark colored bottle, like an amber glass bottle, because exposure to light will destroy some of the herbal properties of the tinctures.

To save more money you can reuse any dark glass bottles you may have around the house, from condiments, etc. Herbal tincture can be taken from a few drops to a couple tablespoons. Make sure you understand the herb you are taking, to know how much tincture is necessary, for you.