How To Make A Tincture
Tinctures are more powerful and last longer then dried herbs. There are many benefits to learning how to make a tincture. If you look at the prices out there and notice that the amount you get for the money is really not so cheap. You can make a quart out of what a few ounces will get you from a retailer.
What you need to make your own tincture:
- Dried herbs in powdered or cut form
- 80-100 proof vodka or rum
- Mason Jar
- Unbleached cheesecloth or muslin
- Labels
200 grams for dried herbs or 300 grams for fresh chopped herbs to one liter of liquid. Water or vinegar can be used for non alcoholic tinctures.
Allow them to sit for 4-6 weeks, shaking every couple of days, make sure to check it daily at first to make sure the alcohol is covering the herbs completely. Once the steeping time is done, use the cheesecloth to catch all the herbs, transferring just the oil into another bottle. Once all the herbs are stopped in the cheesecloth, squeeze it to extract all of the liquid from the herbs.
Put the liquid into tincture bottles that are clearly labeled and dated. Store the tincture in a tight closed container in a dark place. A dark cabinet is a good place. This will help it last up to two years. The dosage amount is 1 tsp, 1-3 times daily, diluted in tea juice or water.
Check out this very cool video showing you exactly how to make a tincture. It’s done by a guy named John Gallagher who is a member of Mountain Rose Herbs and LearningHerbs.com.
If you are new to herbs or just want to learn more I highly, highly suggest checking out (click here to buy)this site. They have put together an awesome program for beginners and/or people just wanting to learn more about herbs and herbal remedies. It’s all free and they give you a few free ebooks to get you started learning. They also have this awesome Herbal Starter Kit (click here to buy) that they sell made up of the essential herbs and extracts you need to get you started on herbs.
Where To Get Dried Herbs
Dry herbs in cut form seem the hardest to find. I have found more herbs in powder form which is just fine for making tinctures. I would first start at Herbal Remedies. They usually have many herbs in many different forms and usually carry the powder form. Click here for information on a great starter pack.
Also try Ayurvedic Herbs Direct. They have a nice selection on their site which includes products from Organic India and Chinese Herbs Direct. Click here to buy some Ayurvedic Herbs.
Lastly, if you can’t find what you are looking for either of those places, you might find what you are looking for at Amazon.com. You will find many companies selling their own dry cut herbs. Just search for whatever herb cut you are looking for and you should be directed right to it. Click here to search Amazon.