Making Herbal Tinctures

The quality and convenience of manufactured herbal extracts and essential oils are great, but sometimes the care and satisfaction that one can take in making their own extracts is as helpful as their actual use. If herbal extracts are part of your daily routine, the cost of manufactured versions can add up quickly and amount to a small fortune over time. Making your own can save you money and offer you the satisfaction of growing your own herbs and creating your own blends from scratch. This recipe is the simplest way I have found to make liquid herbal tinctures in your own home.

Some notes before we begin. First, know your final recipes and intents for the blend you are making. If you are planning to use your tincture to make home remedies you plan to ingest, make sure you understand the properties of the herbs you are using, and if you have allergies. It is always better to do a little more research on the herbs you are using and do an allergy test before taking a sip or applying the final result to your hair or skin. It is better to use some extra time in caution and research than to become ill of have an allergic reaction. Keep in mind that this tincture is not something generally used as is. It is an ingredient similar to essential oils to be used in other recipes. In some cases, I will substitute an herbal tincture made from this recipe or an herbal tea in place of essential oils in health, hair and skin care recipes since it is a little less concentrated and easier to handle.

Remember to always work with clean, preferably sterile, jars that come with a tight fitting lid. Bottles in amber, cobalt or other colors work best if you plan to store the tincture for any length of time, since the colored bottle with prevent loss of potency, which can be caused by light exposure. If made and stored correctly a bottle of this tincture will store well for up to five years. The herbs you use will depend on your purpose and needs in making the tincture. If you plan to make more than one mixture, for varying purposes, make sure you label the bottles well to prevent any later mix-ups. As usual, fresh is best, but you might not have the space or climate from growing all of the herbs you might want to use. If you need to purchase herbs, be sure you use a trusted supplier to obtain quality herbs. Do not use powered herbs, as those will be extremely difficult to strain from your liquid. If you do not want to use alcohol to make your tincture you can substitute vinegar, however even if your final product is to be used in herbal remedies rather than hair and skin products, the amount of alcohol you would consume in the final product is minimal.

You will need:
Large jar(s)
Smaller jar(s) for final product
Herbs of your choice
Alcohol, vodka or a strong grain alcohol
Plastic bag
Sieve
Large container
Cheesecloth or muslin
Funnel

Instructions:
1. Put your herbs in a glass jar. If you are lucky enough to be using fresh material, be sure to chop the herbs finely beforehand.
2. Pour your alcohol over the herbs, being sure to cover the herbs completely. If using dried herbs, you will need to add more alcohol over the next day or two. The dried herbs will absorb the liquid and expand during this time. You should end up with a ratio of one-part herbs to five parts alcohol for dried herbs and one part herb to three parts alcohol total for fresh herbs.
3. Seal the jar tightly. If you are using a jar with a metal lid, place the plastic bag between the lib and the jar to prevent rust from forming and contaminating your tincture.
4. Shake well the jar well and put the jar in a dark place. Allow the herbs to soak, or macerate, between four and six weeks. Remember to check on the bottle and shake well every few days. During this stage, the alcohol is working to extract the active constituents from the herbs.
5. When the four to six weeks is over, open your jar and strain the liquid into a large bowl. I suggest using a sieve, potato ricer or strainer lined with cheesecloth, muslin or other fine fabric.
6. Gather up the now wet muslin around the herbal material and squeeze tightly to extract as much of the liquid from the cloth and herbs. The saturated herbal material left behind is the strongest in terms of active medicinal value.
7. Funnel the saved liquid into smaller bottles and store your tinctures in a cool, dark place.