Making Your Own Tinctures

I enjoy, very considerably, making my own tinctures. I love being able to formulate each family member's healing concoction strictly for their distinctive needs. Here is how I proportion my tinctures.

• For fresh leaves or flowers, I finely chop the material and fill my quart jar 2/3-3/4 of the way. I then pour alcohol, I use vodka, a good 40%, to the very top of the jar. I will get to the vodka in a bit. The jar should appear full, but herb should move freely.

• For dried leaves or flowers, I finely chop or grind the material and fill the quart jar 1/2-3/4 of the way full. I again, fill the jar to the top with vodka. The jar should appear full.

• For fresh bark, roots, or berries, I finely chop the material and fill the jar 1/3-1/2 of the way full. And then fill it to the top with vodka.

• For dried bark, roots, or berries, I finely chop or grind material and fill the jar 1/4-1/3 of the way full. And then fill it to the top with vodka. Roots and berries will double in size.

I then cover the jars with plastic wrap and then put the lid and rim on. I place the jars in a place that is free of sunlight and let them do their work for 8 weeks. I shake the jars at least twice a week. This is so fun because you get to watch the tincture change colors. Once they are ready, I strain them into a clean jar and keep them in the same dark area, to use as I desire. I typically pick my tincture for what attributes they bring and then use a dropper to fill my dropper jar with equal parts.

Alcohol strengths and uses : 

40%-50% alcohol by volume 

• standard for tincture 

• good for most dried and fresh material

• good for extraction of water-soluble properties

67.5%-70% 

• extracts the most volatile aromatic properties

• good for fresh, high-moisture herbs like lemon balm, berries, and aromatic roots. 

• will draw out more of the plant juices

85%-95%

• good for dissolving gums and resins, but not needed for plants

• extracts the aromatics and essential oil bound in a plant that doesn't dissipate easily

• this alcohol strength can produce a tincture that is not easy to take and will also dehydrate herbs if used for botanicals beyond gums and resins.

Keep brewing, keep cooking, and most definately keep healing,
Cheers,
MysTorri
Do your best, even when you don't want to.