Herbal Tinctures

June 29, 2004

Herbal Tinctures

JoAnn Guest

Jun 28, 2004 20:13 PDT

Herbal Tinctures

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 manufacturers.

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. 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 chopping the 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.

The method that was used to determine the amount of alcohol to use

in our tinctures is called the Simpler's Method.

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 & the reason for its use. A couple of

good reference books is the most reliable way of choosing the

correct dose.

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.

Young's 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.

Clark's 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.

GATHERING & 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.

Please honor the ethical wildcrafting guidelines. It is not

difficult for us to severely threaten a plant species due to over-

harvesting. We see this with many herbs that are valuable to us such

as ginseng, echinacea and goldenseal. If you choose to collect your

own herbs, remember to show appreciation for these healing gifts the

earth provides

to us and collect in a way that helps the plants to reproduce and

flourish in their natural environments.

The information contained here is a sharing of the authors

experiences

and those of other herbalist. It is not intended to treat, diagnose

or prescribe. This information is not a substitute for professional

health care and guidance.

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