Tincture
Herbal tinctures are an extraction of herbs into an alcohol base. The alcohol conserves properties that are lost during extraction processes that require heating They are more concentrated than infusions or extractions and keep for long periods. They are used diluted in small amounts medicinally and may be added to creams and ointments to boost their properties. "Mother Tincture' is the name given to an undiluted alcohol tincture from parts of one type of plant and is used as the base for homeopathic preparations. Leaf, flower, bark, root and seed can all be used to make tincture.
Alcohol
For the alcohol to act as an efficient solvent it needs to be at least 60% proof. A good quality vodka or brandy will make excellent tinctures. Denatured alcohol is now available from some cosmetic ingredient and essential oil suppliers. This is treated so it cannot be consumed and is only suitable for tinctures that will be used externally or for perfume blends.
Wine and cider vinegar can also be used for tincture making. The results will not be as strong and they need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Method
Fill a glass jar loosely with the herb material, chop leaves and flowers (if large), bruise roots and seeds in a mortar and pestle.
Cover with alcohol.
Screw down lid and label jar with the name of the herb and the days' date. If you are like me and have many strange things hanging about in jars, label it as 'tincture' - just in case!
Each day tap the base of the jar firmly, 100 times (or for one minute) onto either the hell of your hand or onto a folded cloth. This is known as 'succussion' and is a process that allows the release of the plant properties into the alcohol.
After 10 - 14 days your tincture will be ready to strain, first through a sieve and then through a paper coffee filter set in a funnel.
Store in a very clean dark glass bottle, labelled with the name, common and Latin of the herb and the date. Keep in a cool dark place.
You can add 5 ml of glycerine to each 250ml of tincture to increase its keeping qualities.
Dosage is 5-15 drops in 40ml of water or milk, three times a day, for adults only. Do not give tinctures to chldren under five.
Use tincture in ointments as 1% of the total volume of ingredients. As tinctures are alcohol based, they can be drying on the skin and are not often used in moisturising products.
Alcohol
For the alcohol to act as an efficient solvent it needs to be at least 60% proof. A good quality vodka or brandy will make excellent tinctures. Denatured alcohol is now available from some cosmetic ingredient and essential oil suppliers. This is treated so it cannot be consumed and is only suitable for tinctures that will be used externally or for perfume blends.
Wine and cider vinegar can also be used for tincture making. The results will not be as strong and they need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Method
Fill a glass jar loosely with the herb material, chop leaves and flowers (if large), bruise roots and seeds in a mortar and pestle.
Cover with alcohol.
Screw down lid and label jar with the name of the herb and the days' date. If you are like me and have many strange things hanging about in jars, label it as 'tincture' - just in case!
Each day tap the base of the jar firmly, 100 times (or for one minute) onto either the hell of your hand or onto a folded cloth. This is known as 'succussion' and is a process that allows the release of the plant properties into the alcohol.
After 10 - 14 days your tincture will be ready to strain, first through a sieve and then through a paper coffee filter set in a funnel.
Store in a very clean dark glass bottle, labelled with the name, common and Latin of the herb and the date. Keep in a cool dark place.
You can add 5 ml of glycerine to each 250ml of tincture to increase its keeping qualities.
Dosage is 5-15 drops in 40ml of water or milk, three times a day, for adults only. Do not give tinctures to chldren under five.
Use tincture in ointments as 1% of the total volume of ingredients. As tinctures are alcohol based, they can be drying on the skin and are not often used in moisturising products.
