An herbal tincture is a convenient means of getting an herb’s medicinal properties quickly into one’s body system.
There are many uses for herbal extracts, including: digestive or sleep aids, relaxants, as an appetite stimulant or suppressor, or as an immune system enhancer.
Making herbal tinctures from home is extremely easy and quite affordable, and can aid in your family’s wellness care.
Herbal Tinctures: The Basics
A tincture is an herbal extract made by infusing herbs in alcohol. This alcohol-based preparation is designed to preserve the natural benefits of chosen herbs and can be used to treat a variety of circumstances.
The alcohol—generally 100% vodka—extracts the medicinal constituents from the herbs, resulting in a strong and powerful concentration of the herb’s healing essence. Tincturing also allows the water in the alcohol to extract the water soluble constituents from the herb, further increasing the tincture’s herbal potency.
The Benefits of Tincture Making
Making an herbal tincture at home is a powerful and useful way of preserving the herb’s healing properties. The convenience of a tincture—by a dropperful under the tongue when necessary, ensuring quick absorption into the system—means it is a portable and potent healing application.
With first-hand input into the tincture’s preparation, one is guaranteed of its quality and purity. By selecting high-quality organic herbs and the highest quality alcohol, a valuable organic herbal extract can be achieved.
Additionally, tinctures are an economical preparation. Given the nature of their ingredients, they have an almost unlimited shelf life.
Most Beneficial Healing Herbs for Tinctures
There are many different types of tinctures that can be made, depending on the intended use. For example, a valerian root tincture is useful for treating insomnia by helping the patient fall asleep and by increasing the quality of that sleep.
A few examples of different types of herbs—dried or fresh—excellent for tinctures and their uses are:
- Red clover: promotes lung health
- Dandelion root: used as a natural diuretic
- Ginger root: many uses, including treating migraines and arthritis
- Comfrey leaf: promotes rejuvenation of tissue, bones, and cartilage
- Echinacea: boosts immune system
- Chamomile: relaxes stomach discomfort or pain
How to Make an Herbal Tincture
When interested in preparing an herbal tincture from home and exploring its herbal healing powers, a good first step to take is to preview the instructional video by Mountain Rose Herbs titled Herbal Basics: Making Herbal Tinctures.
In this video the audience is shown how to create an alcohol-based tincture with valerian root using the folk method of tincture-making, the tools and ingredients required, and the proper uses and storage of homemade tincture.
It’s easy and affordable to prepare one’s own herbal remedies, including herbal tincture. By embracing herbs and their healing components, there is new exposure to a fresh and natural approach to treating common ailments and conditions.
