Navigating the world of herbal remedies can be a transformative experience. Throughout history, our ancestors have used natural plant products to cure common ailments. This holistic approach puts greater emphasis on overall wellness rather than curing on a specific illness. If you are embarking on a journey to lasting health and well-being through naturally sourced supplements and remedies, we’re right there with you. One of the many ways you can enrich your health is by consuming herbal tinctures. An herbal tincture is the end product when healing compounds from herbs are extracted into a solvent. The concentrated extract makes it much easier for the bloodstream to absorb the medicinal properties and nutritional benefits from the herbs. The most common solvents are alcohol, glycerin, or vinegar. These solvents effectively preserve the plant properties and effectively extends its shelf life. It’s mixed with fresh or dry herbs, barks, roots, flowers, leaves and berries. The tincture can be taken straight from the dropper or diluted it in water. In terms of efficacy, a single dose can be as effective as consuming a cup of herbal tea. You can purchase readily available herbal tinctures but we suggest creating them at home so you get the same amazing benefits for much less. You'll be surprised at how much you can save by making your own tinctures. In general, you don’t need a lot of items to create your own tincture. Here’s a quick checklist:
- Fresh or dry herbs of your choosing
- Mason jars or any canning jars with tight lids
- Muslin or nut milk bag
- Tincture bottles
- Solvent (high proof alcohol, vinegar or glycerin)
- Small funnel or measuring cup
- Labeling items like pen, paper and tape
Keep in mind your current health condition and main purpose in taking tinctures when you are choosing which herbs to use. Are you looking to achieve healing? Do you want to nourish your body and prevent illnesses? Do you need calming and soothing tinctures? Proceed with caution if you are taking pharmaceutical medicines, have allergies, or are pregnant. Research extensively about the herbs you want to mix to make sure you end up with a potent extract. You can purchase the herbs or pick them from your own garden. The most important part is that they aren't sprayed with harmful chemicals. We recommend getting it from Mountain Rose Herbs if you prefer procuring herbs online. As for the solvent, higher proof alcohol like vodka perform better as it does a great job of extracting and preserving the plant properties. As much as possible, opt for organic, consciously made alcohol.
DIY: How To Make Your Own Herbal Tinctures
Ready to make your own herbal tincture? Fill three parts of the jar with clean, finely cut or grounded herbs. Pour the high proof alcohol over the herbs. Ideally, the jar should be filled with herbs but have enough room to shake the mixture. Cover the jar with an airtight lid and set the concoction aside in your cupboard for about six weeks or so. Shake the jar up every few days during that maceration period. Keep an eye out for the alcohol level, as the herbs must be completely covered. Add alcohol if needed. After it has steeped for the recommended number of weeks, put a fine layer of muslin or nut milk bag over a bowl or cup. Then pour the mixture over the cloth. Give the cloth a good squeeze to ensure you’re getting every drop of liquid out. After this, you can now transfer the mixture into little glass bottles with droppers using a funnel or measuring cup. Don’t forget to label each bottle with important details. List the herbs used and date when the extract was transferred into decanters. Store it away in a dry place away from heat or direct sunlight. Creating tinctures is a learning process that takes a lot of patience. You need to figure out the percentage of alcohol you need to use based on the herbs. You must understand how long the mixture should steep for optimum results depending if they are root, leaf or stem. Additionally, you should ensure the proper ratio of solvents and herbs. Ultimately, if you follow the general procedures, you will end up with a much better mixture than simply drinking herbal tea. Water is never going to extract all of the nutrients, enzymes, minerals, essential oils and alkaloids that alcohol could.
Sample Tincture Recipes
https://youtu.be/zFCm4JEC6oc In this video, Josh Macin explains his process on making herbal tinctures at home. He also shares two simple concoctions for aluminum binding, cleansing, and detoxification of the liver. The first concoction contains horsetail and alfafa. Both of these herbs have high mineral content that is great for the bones, hair, teeth and for aluminum binding. Meanwhile, the second mixture is perfect when you are actively detoxing your liver. It contains yellow dock, milk thistle, dandelion, chanca piedra, peppermint, schizandra, valerian, bupleurum, and a few other herbs. Watch the video for more information about these awesome tinctures. Don't forget to subscribe to The Detox Dudes' YouTube channel for more amazing content on natural remedies, detoxification and overall wellness.
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