Incredible Folk Tinctures: Everything you need to know!

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the art of making folk tinctures, a time-honored method that harnesses the potent medicinal properties of herbs using alcohol. Tinctures are essential tools in the herbalist’s arsenal, offering a convenient and effective way to preserve the healing benefits of herbs. Whether you’re a seasoned herbalist or a beginner looking to expand your herbal medicine cabinet, this step-by-step guide will equip you with the knowledge to create your own powerful herbal tinctures at home.

By following this detailed tutorial, you’ll discover which herbs are best suited for tincturing, how to properly prepare your ingredients, and the secrets to ensuring a potent and effective final product. Let’s get started on your journey to creating high-quality, homemade folk tinctures.

What are Folk Tinctures?

Folk tinctures are a simple, time-honored method of extracting the medicinal properties of herbs using alcohol. This method is popular among herbalists because it’s easy to do at home and requires minimal equipment. Folk tinctures are a great way to preserve the potency of herbs and create long-lasting remedies for various ailments. This is the method most herbalists start out trying, and it’s a great one for learning and gaining confidence. There are other tincturing methods, which we well cover in a later post.

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Why Make Folk Tinctures?

• Preservation: Tinctures have a long shelf life, often lasting several years.
• Potency: Alcohol extracts the active constituents from herbs more effectively than water alone.
• Convenience: Tinctures are easy to take and can be carried with you for on-the-go use.

Essential Ingredients and Tools

To get started, you’ll need:

• Fresh or dried herbs.
• 80-100 proof vodka or another high-proof alcohol. I prefer to use 100 proof for the majority of herbs, especially fresh herbs, or tinctures using seeds or roots.
• A clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Ball or Kerr brand canning jars are always my go-to.
• Cheesecloth, cotton cloth or a fine mesh strainer
• Dark glass bottles for storing the finished tincture. I honestly just use pint or quart jars, since I make a lot of tincture at one time.
• Labels and a marker for dating your tinctures
• Rubber band
• Funnel

Step-by-Step Directions for Making Folk Tinctures

1. Choose Your Herb: Select an herb known for its medicinal properties. Some popular choices include echinacea, elderberry, chamomile, valerian root, and peppermint. Ensure your herbs are fresh or properly dried for the best results.
2. Prepare Your Herbs:
   • Fresh Herbs: Chop the herbs finely to increase the surface area and improve extraction.
   • Dried Herbs: Use a high powered blender, food processor or mortar and pestle to grind your herbs a finely as possible.
3. Fill Your Jar: Place the herbs in the glass jar, filling it about 2/3 with fresh herbs or 1/2 full with dried herbs.
4. Add Alcohol: Pour the alcohol over the herbs, filling the jar to the very top. Ensure all the herbs are submerged to prevent mold growth. You can stir the mixture a little with a chop stick or butter knife to get the bubbles out faster.
5. Seal and Shake: Lay a piece of parchment over the opening to the jar, this prevents rust or corrosion from the alcohol. Secure the lid tightly on the jar. Shake it gently to mix the herbs and alcohol.
6. Steep: Store the jar in a cool, dark place for 4-6 weeks. Shake the jar every few days to help with the extraction process.
7. Strain and Bottle:
   • After 4-6 weeks, strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl.
   • Squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the herbs.
   • Pour the tincture into dark glass bottles using a funnel.
8. Label and Store: Label the bottles with the name of the herb, the type of alcohol used, and the date. Store the tincture in a cool, dark place.

Herbs That Are Perfect for Tincturing

1. Echinacea: Boosts the immune system and helps fight off colds and infections.
2. Elderberry: Known for its antiviral properties, excellent for combating the flu.
3. Chamomile: Calming and soothing, great for anxiety and digestive issues.
4. Valerian Root: A natural sedative, perfect for insomnia and anxiety.
5. Peppermint: Relieves digestive issues and can help with headaches.
6. Lemon Balm: Uplifting and soothing, ideal for stress and anxiety.
7. St. John’s Wort: Useful for mild depression and nerve pain.

Not all herbs are good for tincturing. For example herbs high in mucilage, like Marshmallow root, will not tincture well. Mucilage is a slimy substance that is incredibly healing, but doesn’t not extract well into alcohol and needs a cold water extraction method. Some herbs, like St. John’s Wort, are best tinctured fresh as some of their most healing properties dissipate once dried.

Tips for Successful Tincturing

• Quality Matters: Use high-quality, organic herbs whenever possible.
• Patience is Key: Allow sufficient time for the herbs to steep for maximum potency.
• Storage: Use dark glass bottles to protect the tincture from light, which can degrade its potency.

Putting it all together

Making a folk tincture is a rewarding and straightforward process that allows you to harness the healing power of herbs. Whether you’re new to herbalism or an experienced herbalist, tinctures are an excellent addition to your herbal medicine cabinet. Remember to choose quality herbs, follow the steps carefully, and enjoy the benefits of your homemade tinctures.

If you make a folk tincture, let me know on Instagram at @herbanfarmstead! I love seeing what you’re making! If you’d like to learn how to make an herbal oil, check out this post here.

Happy tincturing!