Making Herbal Tinctures For Fall

[Guest guest]

Making Herbal Tinctures For Fall

 

Herbal tinctures are concentrated liquid extracts of the medicinal

properties of herbs. Tinctures represent one of many different ways

to prepare and use herbs. The terms tincture and extract are often

used interchangeably. Technically these terms are an indication of

strength used by manufactures.

 

GATHERING AND HARVESTING HERBS

 

With a little effort you can find many useful herbs for tincturing

growing near your home. If you want to obtain your herbs this way you

will need to pay attention to these plants so that you can harvest

them at the appropriate time. The general rule is to harvest the

above ground portions of the plant when it is flowering and harvest

roots when the above ground portions begin to die back. You can find

many useful herbs growing near your home. Perhaps in your lawn, a

meadow, or in a wooded area. If the herb is growing in an area that

is free from chemical contamination then it is safe to harvest some

for your own use. Avoid harvesting from fields that may have been

sprayed with pesticides and from harvesting along roadways where the

plants absorb pollutants released from cars.

 

ALCOHOL TINCTURES

 

In most cases you should choose to make alcohol tinctures because of

its superior qualities. Alcohol will extract volatile oils and most

alkaloids from your herbs and will preserve your tinctures longer.

Most herb tinctures will maintain their potency for many years. A

selection of dried herbs in your medicine cabinet has a shelf life of

approximately one year. Alcohol also acts as a carrier for your herbs

causing them to be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream when you

take them.

 

If you don't wish to consume alcohol it is possible to put the

required dosage into a cup of boiled water. The heat will cause the

alcohol to evaporate leaving the therapeutic qualities of the herb in

the water. For recovering alcoholics, liver problems, children or

sensitivity to alcohol it is possible to make your tinctures using

vegetable glycerin or raw vinegar. Both glycerin and vinegar

tinctures will be less potent and have shorter shelf lives.

 

To make an alcohol tincture you will need the herb, 100 proof alcohol

and a labeled glass jar. An alcohol tincture is most often 50%

alcohol and 50% water. 100 proof vodka naturally contains the

appropriate ratios of water to alcohol. You can use gin, brandy or

rum if you prefer.

 

Warning:***Do not use isopropyl rubbing alcohol which is very toxic

when

ingested!***

 

Choose fresh plants for making your tinctures whenever possible.

Fresh plants may contain properties that are lost or altered when the

plant is dried. Dried herbs may be used when they are of good

quality. Do not harvest plants that have been exposed to pesticides,

herbicides, car emissions and other toxic substances.

 

Manually remove any dirt from your plants. Chop the plants up into

small pieces so that the alcohol will be able to contact a lot of

surface. Sometimes a blender is useful for the chopping hard roots.

Use 100 proof vodka if you need liquid in the your blender to chop

the herbs effectively.

 

Place the chopped herbs in a glass jar and cover with alcohol plus

another inch of alcohol above the level of the herbs. Shake the

mixture well to expose all the surfaces to the alcohol. Label the jar

with the contents and the date.

 

If you make your tincture using dried herbs they may absorb a lot of

alcohol in the first couple days. If this happens simply add enough

alcohol to cover the herbs again. Shake your tincture everyday

throughout the next six weeks.

 

If necessary, you may begin to use your tincture after two weeks but

allow at least six weeks extraction time before straining. I often

leave my herbs in the alcohol much longer than six weeks and strain

it only when I've taken out enough tincture to expose some of the

herbs to air. It is convenient if you have small amber dropper

bottles to put your finished tinctures in so you can easily carry

them with you and measure dosages.

 

GLYCERIN TINCTURES

 

Glycerin is very sweet and will dissolve mucilage, vitamins and

minerals. It will not dissolve the resinous or oily properties of

herbs very well. Because glycerin is sweet it is an excellent choice

for children's remedies. Make glycerin tinctures in small amounts

because it will not last as long as an alcohol tincture, about 1 to 3

years. Be sure to use 100 % vegetable glycerin.

 

Follow the same basic instructions for making the alcohol tincture

substituting glycerin for alcohol. To make a glycerin tincture you

can cover your herbs with 100 % glycerin alone or combine 3/4 part

glycerin with 1/4 part water. Water also dissolves some properties of

herbs into solution so I recommend using it in your glycerin

tinctures when you are tincturing dried herbs.

 

VINEGAR TINCTURES

 

Vinegar primarily dissolves alkaloids. It does not draw all the

medicinal properties from your herbs. Use vinegar for people

sensitive to alcohol or for tonic herbs that you will be taking over

long periods of time. Vinegar tinctures have a short shelf life, 6

months to a year if stored in a cool dark place.

 

Make your vinegar tincture in the same manner as you do using

alcohol. Make sure the herbs are completely submerged in the vinegar.

If you are using fresh herbs, spread them out in an airy place to

wilt them first. This reduces the water content and reduces the

chances of spoilage.

 

DOSAGES

 

Dosages for herbal tinctures are best determined individually based

upon the power of the herb and the reason for its use. The dosage is

dependent upon the illness you are treating and the power of the

herbs you are using. For most purposes, herbalist use gentle herbs

that can be safely used in large dosages. Commercial tinctures are

labeled with the recommended dosage, usually 10-30 drops three times

per day. Sometimes ten to thirty drops of tincture is sufficient for

a therapeutic dose, other times you may need a teaspoon every hour.

 

Equivalents

60 drops = 1 teaspoon

4 ml. = 1 teaspoon

1 ounce = 28.4 grams (solid)

1 fluid ounce = 29.57 ml.

1 teaspoon tincture = 2 " OO " capsules

 

Dosages for children are not provided in most herbals. To determine

the correct dose you need to consider the size of the child, the

ailment, the power of the herb you intend to use, and the adult

dosage.

 

Rule for determining dosage uses the child's age divided by twelve

plus the age. The dosage for a 4 year old:

 

4/12+4 = 4/16 = 1/4 of the adult dose.

 

Rule for determining dosages divides the weight of the child by 150

to give the approximate fraction of the adult dose. Dosage for a 40

lb.

child: . 40 /150 = .26 or approx. 1/4 the adult dose.

 

HERBS TO TINCTURE

 

When using herbs to help maintain the health of your family you won't

need to have a large number of herbs on hand for general use. Some of

the most commonly used herbs are listed here as a basic starting

point. These herbs are mild in action and non-toxic. Add less

commonly used herbal tinctures to your medicine chest when you know

they will be useful to you.

 

BURDOCK ROOT (Arctium lappa) - Burdock aids liver function, purifies

blood, and is antiseptic. It is effective in treating systemic skin

disorders such as psoriasis, eczema, acne and dandruff. Burdock is

also useful for arthritic conditions, rheumatism, and many types of

infections. It is the primary ingredient in ESSIAC TEA, a Native

American cancer formula. Burdock root is commonly eaten as food among

the Chinese. The boiled roots, called gobo, have a mild flavor

similar to potatoes. Dosage for tincture is 1/2 teaspoon 3-4 times a

day.

 

DONG QUAI ROOT (Angelica sinensis) - Dong quai is a tonic herb rich

in minerals and iron and is an excellent remedy for many

gynecological problems. Many women have found dong quai to be useful

in treating P.M.S. and symptoms of menopause. Dong quai is a uterine

tonic and hormonal regulator. It is a specific for menstrual cramps,

irregularity, dysmenorrhea, and delayed or absent menstrual cycles.

Dong quai can stimulate bleeding and is not recommended for use

during the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy. Dong Quai also acts

as a blood purifier and antispasmodic, useful for treating heart

palpitations, insomnia and cramps. Dosage of dong quai tincture is

1/4 teaspoon twice a day.

 

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale) - Dandelion root stimulates and aids

the liver in the elimination of toxins from the blood. Use dandelion

for liver disorders, and gall bladder problem. The liver is

responsible for so many functions important to good health, such as

filtering the blood of toxins, regulating and normalizing hormone

production, and metabolism of fats, cholesterol and enzymes.

Dandelions action upon the liver makes it useful for treating a large

number of ailments. Dandelion is useful for P.M.S., menopause,

hypoglycemia, recent onset diabetes, high blood pressure and

digestive disturbances. You can use dandelion root on a regular basis

for cleansing and toning the liver. Dandelion leaf is one of our best

diuretic herbs because it contains large amounts of potassium which

is lost when the kidneys are stimulated by diuretics. Use for

treating water retention due to heart problems or P.M.S. Dandelion

leaves are also a wonderful spring green. They can be eaten freshly

steamed or marinated. Dandelion greens are very rich in vitamin A,

potassium and minerals. Dosage for dandelion tincture is 1/2 teaspoon

 

3-4 times per day for the root or leaf. There is no known toxicity so

you can eat as much as you like of the greens.

 

ECHINACEA - ( Echinacea purpurea or E. angustifolia ) This herb is

the most widely consumed herb in the world today. It is used

internally to activate the immune system when fighting colds and flu,

or almost any type of infection. You can use echinacea tincture

whenever you feel your body is fighting an ailment. In Germany,

studies have shown that echinacea has also been found to be useful

for some arthritic diseases, certain cancers as well as many viral

and bacterial infections. The root is the most powerful part of the

plant. Two species, Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia,

are commonly used. Both species are powerful, but it is best to

choose E. purpurea because it is the most abundant species. E.

angustifolia is becoming rare in the wild. Many people cultivate

echinacea in their gardens, commonly known as Purple Coneflower. To

avoid further depletion of wild echinacea plants, try to buy only

cultivated plants or grow your own. Dosage for echinacea tincture is

1/2 teaspoon every 2 hours for acute conditions and 3 times per day

for chronic conditions.

 

HAWTHORNE (Crataegus oxyacantha) - Hawthorne berries are a

circulatory system tonic useful for treating both high and low blood

pressure, palpitations and arteriosclerosis. Hawthorne is also

effective in relieving insomnia. For a synergistic cardiac tonic

blend combines equal parts of hawthorne berries and motherwort herb.

Motherwort has properties similar to hawthorne. Dosage for hawthorne

tincture is 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon 3 times per day.

 

NETTLES (Urtica urens) - Nettles are rich in minerals, vitamins, and

chlorophyll. The new shoots are eaten lightly steamed in the spring.

They contain the indole histamine which makes them useful for

allergies and asthma. Nettles are a tonic and general detoxifying

remedy for the whole body, primarily for the lungs, stomach and

urinary systems. Use nettles for allergies, asthma, eczema, urinary

complaints and arthritic and rheumatic problems. Nettle root is used

for benign prostate enlargement. Nettles offer the most benefit if

they are tinctured using the fresh herb. With careful attention and a

firm grasp you can pick nettles without getting stung, or wear long

sleeves and gloves. Nettles lose their sting when they are dried.

Dosage of nettle tincture is 10 - 30 drops 3 times per day.

 

USNEA (Usnea barbata) - Usnea is an herbal antibiotic useful for

treating respiratory infections, colds & flu, urinary tract

infections, bacterial infections and fungal infections. Usnea

inhibits the growth of staphylococcus, streptococcus and

pneumonococcus. At the onset of an illness I use a combination of

echinacea and usnea. I have had great results using this herb and

would not be without it. The active ingredient in usnea does not

dissolve well in water so the tinctured form is more effective than

tea. Dosage for usnea tincture is 1/2 teaspoon 3 - 4 times per day.

 

VALERIAN ( Valeriana officinalis ) - Valerian is sedative and

antispasmodic useful for insomnia, nervousness, pains and the

symptoms of stress. It has a strong odor and taste that is

disagreeable to many but its effectiveness makes it a worthwhile herb

to have in your medicine chest. Tincture valerian alone or combine

with skullcap, hops, and passion flower for a synergistic

combination. You can grow valerian in your garden for your own supply

of fresh root. The odor of the fresh root is not as disagreeable as

the dried root. Dosage for valerian tincture is 10 drops to 1

teaspoon three times a day, or as needed.

 

Andrew Pacholyk, LMT, MT-BC, CA

Peacefulmind.com

Alternative medicine and therapies

for healing mind, body & spirit!