Guest Author - Rebecca Lee Graf
Herbs can be used in many different forms. They can be taken as pills, decoctions, tisanes, and poultices. Another way that many have found to work is through herbal tinctures.
The basis of a tincture is alcohol. Herbs are placed in the alcohol and extracted. It is that simple.
Take your herb of choice and measure it starting at ½ cup. The actual amount of herbs varies based on the potency of the herb. It will take trial and error to find the exact amount that you should use of your herbs. Start at ½ cup and work your way up.
Add the herbs to 1 cup alcohol. The liquid used can be any alcohol. Typically, tinctures are made with vodka though gin, rum, brandy, and wine have also been used.
Just place the herbs in the liquid. If the herb is substantial in size or hard like a root, chop it up to allow access to the alcohol. Cover the mixture and place in a dark place like a pantry, basement, or in the back of a cabinet.
The mixture should remain in the dark for two to six weeks based on what herb you are using. During this time, the herbs are being extracted into the liquid. The total length of time varies again based on the herb being used.
When the extracting time is done, strain the mixture to remove all pieces of the herb. Discard the herbs. Place the strained liquid in a dark bottle that is clearly labeled. Keep the liquid in a dark cabinet and use when needed.
Herbal tinctures can be used externally on wounds or internally for numerous conditions. They can also be used in bathwater. How a tincture is used depends entirely on the herb used. Always keep that in mind as some herbs should never be taken internally. This means that all tincture bottles should be labeled clearly and in a way that the label will not fall off.
Tinctures are basically herbal extracts. The process to make tincture is the exact same way that pure vanilla flavoring is obtained. Therefore, some herbal tinctures can be used in cooking and baking.
The world of herbs is more than adding oregano to a sauce or using lavender under your bed sheets. Try making herbal tinctures to give your herbal usage a little variety.
Note: Always use herbs with caution and follow instructions on how they should be used. Consult an herbalist for more information.
