Tinturas

http://mountainroseblog.com/guide-tinctures-extracts/

Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts that have alcohol as the solvent. If you are using water, vinegar, glycerine, or any menstruum (solvent) other than alcohol, your preparation is an extract – not a tincture. Although, there are exceptions to every rule and sometimes an acetum is defined as "a vinegar tincture" in the tomes.

Herbal Tinctures…

• Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts.
• Alcohol is the solvent. You can use any spirit you like, but I prefer something neutral like vodka so I can taste the herb.
• They can be taken straight by the dropper or diluted in tea.
• They can be made with fresh or dried flowers, leaves, roots, barks, or berries.

How much plant material to use?

Fresh Herbal Material: Leaves & Flowers

• Finely chop or grind clean herb to release juice and expose surface area.
• Only fill the jar 2/3 to 3/4 with herb.
• Pour alcohol to the very top of the jar. Cover plants completely!
• Jar should appear full of herb, but herb should move freely when shaken.

Dried Herbal Material: Leaves & Flowers

• Use finely cut herbal material.
• Only fill the jar 1/2 to 3/4 with herb.
• Pour alcohol to the very top of the jar. Cover plants completely!

Fresh Herbal Material: Roots, Barks, Berries

• Finely chop or grind clean plants to release juice and expose surface area.
• Only fill the jar 1/3 to 1/2 with fresh roots, barks, or berries.
• Pour alcohol to the very top of the jar. Cover plants completely!
• Jar should appear full of herb, but herb should move freely when shaken.

Dried Herbal Material: Roots, Barks, Berries

• Use finely cut herbal material.
• Only fill the jar 1/4 to 1/3 with dried roots, barks, or berries.
• Pour alcohol to the very top of the jar. Cover plants completely!
• Roots and berries will expand by ½ their size when reconstituted!

Alcohol Percentages

40% – 50% (80-90 proof vodka)

• "Standard" percentage range for tinctures.
• Good for most dried herbs and fresh herbs that are not super juicy.
• Good for extraction of water soluble properties.

67.5% – 70% (½ 80 proof vodka + ½ 190 proof grain alcohol)

• Extracts the most volatile aromatic properties.
• Good for fresh high-moisture herbs like lemon balm, berries, and aromatic roots.
• The higher alcohol percentage will draw out more of the plant juices.

85% – 95% (190 proof grain alcohol)

• Good for dissolving gums and resins – but not necessary for most plant material.
• Extracts the aromatics and essential oils bound in a plant that do not dissipate easily.
• The alcohol strength can produce a tincture that is not easy to take. Stronger is not always better!
• Often used for drop dosage medicines.
• Will totally dehydrate herbs.