• Home
    • About
    • Essential Oils
      • Essential Oil Companies Comparison
      • How To Use Frankincense Essential Oil For Pain
      • Essential Oils That Are Not MLM
      • Can You Ingest Any Essential Oils?
    • Bach Remedies
      • Do Bach Flower Remedies Really Work?
      • Best Bach Flower Remedy for Anger
      • Bach Remedies Gentian
      • Bach Flower Remedies To Sleep
    • Natural Remedies for Stress
      • Using Adaptogens for Stress Relief
      • Homeopathic Medicine For Stress Relief
      • Lavender Oil Stress Relief
      • 12 Healthy Lifestyle Habits for Stress Relief
    • Narcissism And Your Health
      • What I’ve Learned About Malignant Narcisissm
      • Why Did The Narcissist Choose Me?
      • Characteristics of Adult Female Bullies
      • Natural Remedies For Narcissistic Abuse
      • Workplace Bullying How To Deal With It
      • Spiritual Recovery From Narcissistic Abuse
      • How To Forgive a Terrible Person
    • Privacy Policy

    Organic Palace Queen

    • Meal Planners
      • Healthy Meal Plan With Shopping List
      • Why Genetically Modified Food Is Bad
    • Real Food Recipes
    • Healthy Living Courses
    • Shopping Guide
      • Can You Buy Ceylon Cinnamon in a Store?
      • How Can You Tell If Your Olive Oil Is Fake?
      • Gluten Free Snacks for Travel
      • Healthy Food To Buy At Aldi
      • How to Afford Organic Food On A Budget
      • Where to Buy Organic Vegetable Seeds
    • Contact

    How To Make Homemade Herbal Tinctures

    June 22, 2017 in Herbal remedies

    how to make homemade herbal tincturesOne popular way of taking herbal remedies is in the form of a tincture. This means dried herbs are preserved in alcohol. Tinctures have a number of benefits, compared to fresh herbs.

    For one, tinctures have a longer shelf life than fresh herbs. You can make tinctures if you’re not using dried herbs fast enough, before they lose their potency. Also, tinctures are more portable, especially if you travel. You can pack a bottled tincture into your purse or suitcase. No brewing is needed. You can put a few drops in a warm glass of water, or a cup of tea.

    Tinctures also make your herbs go farther. The alcohol pulls the medicinal compounds out of the plant, into a more concentrated form.

    It’s relatively easy to make your own tinctures, if you’re so inclined. Any time you embark upon a DIY project, you can potentially save a lot of money. You also know exactly what will be going in your tincture. You can decide to add organic herbs and organic vodka or grain alcohol. Alcohol is necessary for making a tincture. Some herbal experts believe the addition of alcohol also helps bring the beneficial medicinal agents into your cells.

    How to Make Homemade Herbal Tinctures

    (This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything, I receive a commission, at no extra cost to you.)

    Herbal remedies are great to have on hand if you like natural healthcare. I use a lot of herbal remedies because I have chronic nerve inflammation. They’ve been so helpful (along with various lifestyle changes) that I have no need for pain medication. Herbs contain natural anti-inflammatory compounds, as well as natural analgesics. So they relieve the pain, without the nasty and sometimes dangerous side effects of drugs.

    Some people (myself included) use herbal remedies in place of allergy medication. I have mild seasonal allergies. But I keep them at bay with essential oils and various botanical remedies, including dried nettle leaf.

    Right now, I have some dried nettle leaf in my kitchen cabinet. I bought this some time ago, and I don’t want it to go bad. So I’m going to turn it into a tincture. Then I can use it next allergy season, and beyond.

    How to Make Herbal Tinctures With Vodka

    By strict definition, an herbal tincture is made with alcohol. This is needed to pull the medicinal compounds out of the plant material, which is later strained. People who don’t want to consume alcohol can instead use organic vegetable glycerin. However, technically speaking, this is considered an herbal extract, not a tincture. Extracts are often used for children. (I’ll tell you how to make extracts as well, if you don’t want to use a tincture.)

    I decided to make a tincture with the herbal nettle leaf I had on hand. When using alcohol, vodka will work very well as the base. I didn’t have any, so I used some gin. It will do. I’m a firm believer in learning to work with what you already have, since there may come a day when we need to. Actually, I plan to make a series of tinctures just to have in the house, using some of the herbal remedies I already own.

    How to Make Tinctures With Powdered Herbs

    It’s best to use finely ground herbs for a tincture. The dried nettle leaf I had in my natural medicine cabinet was close enough. It wasn’t powdered. But it was broken down in small enough pieces. Here’s how to make a tincture with powdered or dried herbs:

    • I put a small amount of dried nettle leaf in a clean glass jar that had a lid. Ideally, you would use an amber jar. But all I had available here clear glass jelly jars. The tincture shouldn’t be exposed to light. So I can cover the jar in a paper bag, and store it in a cool dark place.
    • Then I added an equal amount of alcohol to the dried nettle.
    • The tincture can then be stored and shaken 3 to 4 times a week, for six weeks. If you notice the alcohol has evaporated, feel free to add more. The herbs should always be covered.
    • Next, it’s time to strain the herbs. Most recipes call for cheesecloth. I don’t have any. So an unbleached coffee filter will substitute. Put the herbs in the coffee filter and let the liquid drip back into the original jar. You can also use an amber herb bottle with a dropper.
    • If you’re making multiple tinctures, you’ll probably want to label them. Weeks later, when they’re ready, you may not remember what’s in each bottle.

    How to Make Herbal Remedies and Glycerites

    Making herbal glycerites with organic vegetable glycerin is very similar to making tinctures. Using glycerites is probably a good idea for young children and for anyone who can’t consume grain alcohol. When my children were little, they were extremely sensitive to wheat. So a glycerite would have been ideal.

    You follow pretty much the same steps for a glycerite, instead of a tincture. You also need to add a little water to the mix, either bottled spring water or filtered tap water.

    • Fill a clean jar half way with dried herbs.
    • Fill the rest of the jar with vegetable glycerin, leaving enough room to top it off with water, so you have a ratio of 3 parts glycerin to one part water.
    • Put the mixture in a dark cook spot and stir it at least five times a week. It should be ready in 6 to 8 weeks.

    Disclaimer

    These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use herbal remedies unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.

    How to make tinctures with powdered herbs

    Tags : how long does it take to make herbal tinctures, how to make herbal remedies and glycerites, how to make herbal tinctures with vodka, how to make homemade herbal tinctures, how to make tincture of herbs, how to make tinctures from dried herbs, how to make tinctures with powdered herbs

    Leave a Comment
    Previous Benefits Of Peppermint Herbal Tea
    Next Is Blue Green Algae Good For Your Health?

    About Organic Palace Queen

    I am a former medical journalist who once wrote for national publications, including Better Homes and Gardens. I committed to sharing news about physical, emotional and spiritual health with others. My focus is on natural health and healing. One of my passions is shining light on narcissistic abuse.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Search Box

    JOIN ME ON MY NATURAL JOURNEY BACK TO HEALTH

    JOIN ME ON MY NATURAL JOURNEY BACK TO HEALTH

    Disclaimer

    Information is for discussion only and not medical advice. Discuss health concerns with a doctor. These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Pregnant women should not use natural remedies unless under medical direction. Some essential oils aren’t safe for children.

    Natural Pain Management StrategiesNatural Pain Management StrategiesSign Up For My Course

    Learn How To Protect YourselfLearn How To Protect YourselfFree Ebook

    Privacy Policy

    OrganicPalaceQueen.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

    Copyright © 2021 Organic Palace Queen · Theme by SheShoppes

    Copyright © 2021 · Bella Banana for Genesis on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in