Making tinctures

I voted 'it complements mainstream medicine', but maybe I should have voted "I wish I knew more"... cuz I do

I haven't voted. I lean more towards it is the only way to go, but on the other hand my husband is on an insulin pump so we are a bit stuck there and then there are times I think just give me drugs!


Dawn~admin

I voted that I wish I knew more. Fortunately we have a couple of herbalist on the forums, so I'm sure they'll be willing to teach us quite a bit.

"Cover the jar with a cloth or loose fitting lid and allow the mixture to stand in a cool dark place for 10 - 12 days." In my classes, (Rosemary Gladstar) they recommended 6 weeks for medicinals with a shaking every day. I don't think I've ever decanted after just 10-12 days. It's interesting to learn that every "teacher" has a different method. Of course, to add to that, I would never recommend anything other than glass to make or store a tincture.

I will enjoy this sharing of knowledge

Parsons Wife wrote:"Cover the jar with a cloth or loose fitting lid and allow the mixture to stand in a cool dark place for 10 - 12 days." In my classes, (Rosemary Gladstar) they recommended 6 weeks for medicinals with a shaking every day. I don't think I've ever decanted after just 10-12 days. It's interesting to learn that every "teacher" has a different method. Of course, to add to that, I would never recommend anything other than glass to make or store a tincture.

I will enjoy this sharing of knowledge

I figured you and Medicine Mom would enjoy sharing with one another. I know both of you have a lot of share with us and teach us. I'm excited about this, since that's where I'm focusing my learning on right now. See how good God is? Sent us not one, but two herbalists to teach us.

Parsons Wife wrote:"Cover the jar with a cloth or loose fitting lid and allow the mixture to stand in a cool dark place for 10 - 12 days." In my classes, (Rosemary Gladstar) they recommended 6 weeks for medicinals with a shaking every day. I don't think I've ever decanted after just 10-12 days. It's interesting to learn that every "teacher" has a different method. Of course, to add to that, I would never recommend anything other than glass to make or store a tincture.

I will enjoy this sharing of knowledge

I usually leave mine for at least 2 weeks, often a month or more. I have read~repeatedly~ that after 4-6 weeks there is no benefit to leaving it longer. I only use glass.

My dispensing bottles come from Specialty Bottles.

I took my Herbal arts studies through Rosemary Gladstar who is a proponent of six weeks. After reading your posting, I looked through other texts that I have to see what they had to say. Admittedly, I used most everyone else for reference and not study. Here is what I came up with, which does help me to re-think my own processes a little further, (though I would still feel leaving longer won't hurt a thing, which I'm sure you'd agree). I really appreciate your insights and am interested in your favorite authors and if there are more indepth courses you would recommend that aren't so costly:

Gladstar: 6 weeks
Tierra: 10 days
Weed: 6 weeks
Rodale: 10days
Rose: 10 days for plant materials ~ 8 weeks for barks and roots
Christopher: 10 - 14 days shaking 3 times a day

Christopher also makes a distinction between the menstrum used whether alcohol/vinegar or glycerin. I would think that there would be a difference between them, though my experience with glycerins is, admittedly, elementary at best.

Now a question ~ do you have info on making gels? I've been trying to find a good recipe for a comfrey gel, not salve and thus far, have not been able to find one.

Blessings, Janet

Parsons Wife wrote: <snip>
Now a question ~ do you have info on making gels? I've been trying to find a good recipe for a comfrey gel, not salve and thus far, have not been able to find one.

Blessings, Janet

Comfrey (and several other mucilaginous plants) will make it's own gel (mucilage) if you infuse it in oil. You place whole, dried comfrey leaves in clear, light vegetable oil and infuse it as I described in the oil extraction topic. https://christianhomesteader.forumotion.net/herbs-f32/extracting-oils-from-herbs-t435.htm

The mucilage will extract out of the plant and settle in a big glob of gel at the bottom of the jar. When the extraction process is completed you gently lift out the herb material with a straining spoon, then tilt the jar and drain off the remaining oil for other use, then empty the jar out over cheesecloth to catch the blob of gel. Bottle that up separately and refridgerate.

Is there a preservative that will keep it from having to be refrigerated? I know vitamin E will keep things for a while, but I've had a few things go rancid and would hate for that to happen with this. I hadn't thought of it's mucilaginous properties having bearing.. Thanks for the info.

Good question. No, there's no natural preservative that I know of. Even Vit. E oil will eventually go rancid after awhile if left at room temperature. I guess you could experiment by floating some gel in vinegar as a preservative, but I'm not sure if the vinegar would break it down - I've never tried that. I do know that alcohol will break it down, so I don't recommend that.

I suspect vinegar, as an acid would do the same. Hmmmm.... I may just stick with the ointments. They're pretty easy to work with. Blessings

Just one last comment here about preservation of tinctures, infusions, ointments, salves, balms, oils, etc. If the herbwife knows she will be making lots of sensitive medicines from herbs then it is worthwhile investing in a small second-hand bar fridge that can be reserved for keeping the medicines in. All pharmacies and doctors offices use them for good reason. Even alcohol tinctures will keep longer if kept in a cold dark place. If electricity and refridgeration is not available then another alternative is a cold root cellar or a water cellar crock partially immersed in a spring house.

Tinctures will last for 20 years or more without refrigeration, so I will not bother refrigerating. In fact, I have a bottle of capsicum in my purse at all times.