How to Make Tinctures in Two Easy Steps |
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Plants can be used for preparing various healing preparations.
Tinctures are considered as the most effective herbal preparations.
They are made of concentrated plant extract. They are easy to make and easy to take.
Tincture extracts and concentrates plant’s ingredients and that makes it an effective and durable medicine.
Tinctures are especially practical for medical treatment because they are taken in small dosages.
Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Tinctures
Tinctures can be made with alcohol or without any alcohol.
Alcohol tinctures have a long expiry date and are easy to use. They can be used internally and externally.
Non-alcoholic tinctures are a good option for those who do not want to or are not allowed to consume alcohol.
Tincture base can be made of:
- Alcoholic drink with a minimum of 50% of alcohol (vodka, brandy, etc.)
- Glycerin
- Vinegar
The main tincture ingredients are of course plants which can be chopped or grinded.
You can also prepare a tincture from several plants.
1. Alcoholic Tincture
Tinctures are often made with alcohol because alcohol is the best for extracting their healing properties and for their preservation. Therefore it is good to use the strongest alcohol.
The first thing you need to do is to fill the 1/3 or ½ of a jar with selected dried or fresh herbs. If you fill ½ of a jar the tincture will be stronger.
Fill the rest of the jar with alcohol and stir with a clean spoon. Seal the jar properly.
Store the jar in a warm and dry place. Shake it every day.
Herbs can be kept in this way from three weeks and up to 6 months.
Filter the tincture through a gaze and keep it in dropper bottles or clean glass jars.
Note
If you do not want to consume alcohol the tincture can be poured into a hot liquid like tea in order for the alcohol to evaporate.
2. Non-alcoholic Tincture
Instead of alcohol tinctures can also be made using herbal glycerin.
Glycerin is more efficient than water, but less efficient than alcohol.
It has a sweet and pleasant taste and calming and healing effect.
Tinctures on the basis of glycerin, which are called glycerides, are usually made in the same way as tinctures on the basis of alcohol but here the proportion is 1 part of water and 2 parts of glycerin.
Glycerides have a shorter expiry date than alcohol based tinctures.
3. Vinegar Tincture
Vinegar tinctures are prepared in the same way as alcoholic tinctures, but instead of alcohol, tinctures are made with apple, wine or rice vinegar.
One should take one tablespoon of vinegar tincture 5 times a day.
How to Make Some Popular Tinctures
Comfrey Tincture
Comfrey tincture is excellent for treating deep pain in muscles, nerves and bones and for treating contusion and sprain.
Use it only externally.
You can prepare it by pouring strong alcohol over grated comfrey root (app. 2 cm above the root).
Leave the jar in the sun for 3 months then strain it and use.
Wild Garlic Tincture
Wild garlic tincture is ideal for elderly people because it improves the functions of bowel, treats acute and chronic diarrhea, intestinal laziness and constipation.
Fill the bottle with chopped wild garlic leaves or bulbs then pour with 40 % home-made brandy and leave in the sun for at least three weeks.
Drink ten to fifteen drops of tincture mixed with little bit of water four times a day.
Wild garlic leaves tincture is made in the spring (because of its season).
Garlic bulb tincture is made in autumn because in autumn the bulbs contain the most healing ingredients.
Traditional Russian tincture for treating tumors
Grind 150 grams of valerian root, 50 grams of nutmeg, 50 grams of birch buds, then pour half of a liter of vodka or brandy and add 150 grams of whole green walnut shells.
Leave it for ten days in a dark place.
Take 15 drops of tincture in 1 dl of water, three times a day, half an hour before a meal.
Rosemary Glycerin
Rosemary tincture is excellent for people suffering from low blood pressure.
Fil 1/3 of a jar with rosemary and the rest of the jar with glycerin mixed with water. The proportion should be 2 parts of glycerin and 1 part of water.
After 3 weeks, strain it.
Drink 0.5 to 1 ml of tincture mixed in a glass of warm water three times a day, half an hour before a meal.
Treatment should be conducted from 3 weeks up to 1 month.
The Vinegar of Four Thieves
Allegedly this legendary vinegar has also been a remedy against the plague.
Today it is known for its repellent, antiseptic and healing properties.
Take 2 tablespoons of the following dried herbs:
Add 8 garlic cloves and pour 1 liter of apple cider vinegar.
Leave it sealed in a dark place for 8 weeks, then strain.
In case of illness take 5 tablespoons a day diluted in water.
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