Medicinal Herbal Tinctures Master Recipe

Step 1

Fill the 8 ounce jar with the appropriate amount of herbs that you are using. If the herbs are fresh, they are best rough chopped first. If you are using roots, stems or stalks, or berries, they are best well chopped or pulverized first.

Step 2

Pour the vodka or other liquid into the jar to within approximately an inch to a half-inch of the rim of the jar. Make sure that all the herbs are well saturated and submerged under the liquid. (See video.)

Step 3

Put the lid on the jar and shake it up and down a few times.

Step 4

Place the jar in a warm place. You can place it either in or out of direct sunlight. Herbalists assert that the sun will not cause the essential or volatile oils to become rancid because the alcohol acts as a preservative. However, if you are using glycerine or apple cider vinegar, you may want to place the jar in a warm place out of direct sunlight.

Step 5

After two days, remove the lid of the jar to check the level of the liquid. The herbs, especially dried herbs, may have absorbed much of the liquid. If so, top off the jar with additional liquid to ensure that the herbs are completely saturated and covered by the liquid. Replace the lid on the jar, shake it up and down a few times, and return it to a warm spot.

Step 6

If you want, you can shake the jar daily, but it is not required. However, it is a good idea to periodically shake the jar at least once a week. Doing so ensures that any herbs that may have floated to the top will be re-submerged under the liquid.

Step 7

If you are making a medicinal herbal tincture using herb flowers and/or leaves, the tincture will be ready to strain and decant after 4 weeks (28 days). If you are making a medicinal herbal tincture using herb roots, stems or stalks, and/or berries, the tincture will be ready to strain and decant after 6 weeks (42 days).

Step 8

To strain the medicinal herbal tincture, place a fine-mesh strainer over a large measuring cup or bowl. Pour the contents of your jar into the mesh strainer and allow the tincture to drain into the vessel below the mesh strainer.

Step 9

DO NOT press on the herbs in the mesh strainer. Allow the tincture to drain naturally. You want the tincture to be as clear as possible and free of bits of herbs in it. The spent herbs can be saved for the compost pile.

Step 10

Once the tincture liquid no longer drains from the mesh strainer, decant the tincture. The best option for decanting the tincture is into a dark-colored bottle with an eyedroppe,r but you can also store it in any glass bottle that you have.

Step 11

Store the tincture in a cool dark place, such as a kitchen pantry or kitchen cabinet. Do not store your herbal medicinal tinctures in the bathroom. The fluctuations in temperature can shorten the shelf life of the tincture.

Step 12

The shelf life of an alcohol-based herbal tincture is very long, almost indefinite. The shelf life of a glycerine-based herbal tincture is approximately 2-3 years. The shelf life of an apple cider vinegar-based tincture is approximately 1 year.

Step 13

See the Recipe Notes below for additional dosage information.

Step 14

Fill the 8 ounce jar with the appropriate amount of herbs that you are using. If the herbs are fresh, they are best rough chopped first.

Step 15

Pour the vodka or other liquid into the jar to within approximately an inch to a half-inch of the rim of the jar. Make sure that all the herbs are well saturated and submerged under the liquid. (See video.)

Step 16

Put the lid on the jar and shake it up and down a few times.

Step 17

Place the jar in a warm place. You can place it either in or out of direct sunlight. Herbalists assert that the sun will not cause the essential or volatile oils to become rancid because the alcohol acts as a preservative. However, if you are using glycerine or apple cider vinegar, you may want to place the jar in a warm place out of direct sunlight.

Step 18

After two days, remove the lid of the jar to check the level of the liquid. The herbs, especially dried herbs, may have absorbed much of the liquid. If so, top off the jar with additional liquid to ensure that the herbs are completely saturated and covered by the liquid. Replace the lid on the jar, shake it up and down a few times, and return it to a warm spot.

Step 19

If you want, you can shake the jar daily, but it is not required. However, it is a good idea to periodically shake the jar at least once a week. Doing so ensures that any herbs that may have floated to the top will be re-submerged under the liquid.

Step 20

The medicinal herbal headache tincture will be ready to strain and decant after 4 weeks (28 days).

Step 21

To strain the tincture, place a fine-mesh strainer over a large measuring cup or bowl. Pour the contents of your jar into the mesh strainer and allow the tincture to drain into the vessel below the mesh strainer.

Step 22

DO NOT press on the herbs in the mesh strainer. Allow the tincture to drain naturally. You want the tincture to be as clear as possible and free of bits of herbs in it. The spent herbs can be saved for the compost pile.

Step 23

Once the tincture liquid no longer drains from the mesh strainer, decant the tincture. The best option for decanting the tincture is into a dark-colored bottle with an eyedropper, but you can also store it in any glass bottle that you have.

Step 24

Store the tincture in a cool dark place, such as a kitchen pantry or kitchen cabinet. Do not store your herbal medicinal tinctures in the bathroom. The fluctuations in temperature can shorten the shelf life of the tincture.

Step 25

The shelf life of an alcohol-based herbal tincture is very long, almost indefinite. The shelf life of a glycerine-based herbal tincture is approximately 2-3 years. The shelf life of an apple cider vinegar-based tincture is approximately 1 year.

Step 26

See the Recipe Notes below for additional dosage information.