Tinctures & Glycerines
Tinctures
Tinctures are concentrated liquid extracts, making them one of the best ways to extract and preserve plant medicine. Alcohol extracts a wide range of plant constituents, while glycerine tinctures are a great alcohol-free alternative, though they tend to be less potent. Glycerine is ideal for those who cannot or choose not to consume alcohol, and it is also a good choice for children or the elderly. Additionally, glycerine's sweet taste can improve compliancy. Both alcohol and glycerine tinctures can last for many years.
There are two main methods for making tinctures: the folk method and the scientific method. Here, we’ll focus on the folk method. The scientific method calculates the exact amount of liquid (alcohol and water) needed based on the weight of the plant material and its water content. If you’re interested in the scientific approach, check out Richo Cech’s book Making Plant Medicine.
Making Tinctures Using the Folk Method
Fresh Herbs: Fill a jar with chopped plant material, packing it tightly. Cover the herbs with alcohol, using 80 or 100 proof alcohol (40-50% alcohol content). Alcohol preserves fresh herbs and captures compounds that might be lost when using dried herbs.
Dried Herbs: Dried herbs are more concentrated, so use about half the amount compared to fresh herbs. Follow the same process as with fresh herbs.
Let It Infuse:
Cover the jar and let it sit for 4-6 weeks (about one moon cycle) in a cool, dry place. Shake the jar every few days to mix the plant material and alcohol. This also helps infuse the medicine with your energy. Remember to label the jar with the herb name and date.
Roots (Fresh & Dry):
For roots, use the same method as for herbs. Roots are dense, so it’s important to chop them to increase the surface area for better extraction.
Glycerine Tinctures:
Glycerine tinctures are made the same way as alcohol tinctures but are often diluted with water (50:50 or 75:25 ratio of glycerine to water). Glycerine is thick and sweet, so dilution is necessary to avoid an overwhelming sweetness.
Straining:
Once the tincture or glycerine has infused, strain out the plant material using a strainer, cheesecloth, muslin, or tincture press. Be sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the plant matter before composting it. Store the liquid in a clean jar, and remember to label it.
Using Your Tincture
Dropper bottles are ideal for tinctures because they provide easy dosage control and are simple to use.
For more in-depth guidance, the Old Way’s Herbals Guide to making tinctures is an excellent resource.