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!
