• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Deep Roots at Home

  • Home
  • About
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • Alternative Medicine
    • Babies & Pregnancy
    • Beauty
    • Books & Booklists
    • Brain & Gut Health
    • Children At Home
    • COVID-19
    • Detoxing & TRS
    • DIY & Crafts
    • Education & Homeschool
    • Faith & Family
    • Feel-Good Stories
    • Flourishing Marriage
    • Flourishing Womanhood
    • Food & Recipes
    • Food Additives
    • Garden & Homestead
    • Healthy Living
    • Herbs & Remedies
    • Holidays
    • Homemaking
    • My Favorite Products
    • News & Alerts
    • Parental Rights
    • Pharma & Vaccines
    • Play, Toys, & Movies
    • Raising Daughters
    • Raising Sons
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Popular Blog Topics
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Babies & Pregnancy
  • Beauty
  • Books & Booklists
  • Brain & Gut Health
  • Children at Home
  • COVID-19
  • Detoxing & TRS
  • DIY & Crafts
  • Education & Homeschool
  • Faith & Family
  • Feel-Good Stories
  • Flourishing Marriage
  • Flourishing Womanhood
  • Food & Recipes
  • Food Additives
  • Garden & Homestead
  • Healthy Living
  • Herbs & Remedies
  • Holidays
  • Homemaking
  • My Favorite Products
  • News And Alerts
  • Parenting / Parental Rights
  • Pharmaceutical Warnings
  • Play / Toys
  • Raising Daughters
  • Raising Sons
  • Popular This Week
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Tincture Making Directions: From Vanilla Extract To Medicinal Tinctures

    15.6KViews Modified: Aug 22, 2021 · Published: Nov 11, 2015
    By Jacqueline 16 Comments

    Share4.1K
    Telegram
    Pin9.0K
    13.0K Shares
    Tincture Making Directions: From Vanilla Extract To Medicinal Tinctures. A collection of the herbal tinctures I have been making.

    Never store your tincture in the daylight or sunlight as in my demo photo here.

    Have you ever made a medicinal tincture? 

    Are you interested in doctoring yourself?

    While you can make a superb Madagascar Bourbon vanilla bean extract or a ‘Jamaican Bay Rum’ aftershave for your husband (see my effort in the above photo), this post is mainly about medicinal tinctures. The principle of extracting is always the same.

    Many of us who take an independent, active role in our own health also desire to build our own natural medicine chest for minor and even advanced ailments, such as taking elderberry tincture to stop a cold or flu, catnip and fennel tea for a colicy baby, or turmeric in place of Prozac or Ibuprofen. You can do any of these and more in the form of an herbal medicinal tincture.

    Having specific medicinal tinctures on hand for a variety of health issues is a wise move today.

    I strive to be prepared to doctor us myself if needs be!

    Elderberry Syrup Recipes
    Get your printable elderberry syrup recipes!
     

    What is a Tincture?

    A tincture is an herbal preparation in which all the phytonutrients, minerals, and essential oils of a plant are extracted into a solvent liquid (high-proof alcohols such as vodka or brandy, and occasionally apple cider vinegar or vegetable glycerin). The latter are sometimes used for children’s preparations, however, they are not as effective as alcohol at drawing the medicinal components from the plants.

    For some herbs, such as dense roots, barks, berries, and non-aromatic seeds, it takes a powerful liquid such as alcohol to extract the medicinal properties from the herb. Extracting with a less-powerful liquid will only result in a less-effective product – really, a less effective use of your time and money.

    Shelf Life & Absorbability

    Tinctures made with 90 proof vodka have real shelf life (minimum 15 years) and really if made properly, most will say they NEVER expire. Refrigeration is not necessary.

    Almost all store-bought tinctures use alcohol as a base or include some amount of alcohol as a preservative. Vodka is what we use because it doesn’t have a strong odor and is very affordable.

    Alcohol tinctures are easy to make and readily absorbed into your body.

     A collection of the herbal remedies

    See how to make Garlic Tincture, Elderberry Tincture, Migraine Tincture and Pepper Juice.

     

    Understanding Alcohol Content

    One dose of an alcohol-based tincture has approximately the same alcohol content as eating a very ripe banana. Because of this, tinctures are safe for pregnant and nursing women if the herb(s) you are using are safe in pregnancy and while nursing. (source) Pregnant mamas can easily evaporate most of the alcohol by placing their dose in a hot liquid like tea or water before taking it.

    12 Herbs Safe To Use During Pregnancy and Lactation

    This post will only be covering alcohol tinctures.

    What You’ll Need:

    • High-proof vodka (at least 80 proof) or brandy.
    • Alternative to alcohol only if necessary: high quality apple cider vinegar – preferably organic.
    • The herb or herbal blend of your choice: fresh or dried (or browse Amazon)
    • A canning jar with a tight-fitting lid
    • A place to store your brew while it steeps (cool and out of the sunlight)
    • A fine strainer or fine cheesecloth or muslin
    • A bowl or glass measuring cup with a spout
    • A small funnel
    • Small, dark glass bottles for storing the tinctures. Cobalt or amber glass are great, and should have tight-fitting screw-on lids.
     

    First, 4 Visual Steps to Making An Herbal Tincture:

    (for my example today, I am making Liver Cleanse, a premixed herbal blend)

    Steps for making tinctures1. Gather

    • your lidded jar
    • the herbs you will be steeping
    • and your alcohol base

    2. Steep the herbs

    • covered in vodka (out of the sunlight)
    • for 4 plus months (one exception is nettles which take 4-5 weeks)

    3. At the end of the brewing time 

    • strain off the herbs from the finished tincture using a fine strainer, several layers of cheesecloth or clean muslin.

    4. Bottle up the finished tincture

    • in dark bottles
    • label and date them
    • Store in a cool, dark place

     

    Note: Liver Cleanse is my favorite pre-mixed tincture for the family of all we’ve used, and Bulk Herb Store is the only place you can get the herbal mixture unless you compound it yourself which would be cost prohibitive.

    Liver Cleanse Tincture is used to clean and rebuild the liver and purify the blood. (For Hepatitis A preventative and restoration, add Reishi mushroom tincture and follow directions.)

     

    Tips

    The alcohol has to be at least 80-proof to prevent any mildewing of the plant material in the bottle. High-proof alcohol acts as a preservative and gives that long shelf life.

    If you’re using fresh herbs, chop them up a bit or bruise them so the alcohol can get to the inner parts. With fresh herbs, fill your jar about 3/4 full, but don’t pack it in too tightly so alcohol is in contact with all the surfaces. Cover the plant matter completely with the alcohol—no part of the plants should be exposed to the air. Fill the jar with alcohol to 1″ from the top.

    Label your amber bottles and store out of the light in a cool place.

    If using dried herbs, you’ll fill your jar 1/2 full with herbs, and then fill with alcohol the same way you did with fresh plants – to 1″ from the top. The reason you use less of the dried herbs is that they will swell up, and you need to leave some room for this to happen.

    To steep: Cap the jar(s) tightly. Label and date your jars and set them in a dark, cool place. Shake the mixture daily for the first week. You’ll then let it sit in your cupboard (or other place of your choice) for another 5 weeks, shaking occasionally, so it’ll steep for 6 weeks in total.

    To bottle: Using the strainer and cheesecloth or muslin to catch the spent herb, pour off the liquid into a glass vessel with a spout (so you can pour it into your dark bottles). I use a glass measuring cup. You can even gather the sides of the cloth and twist it to really squeeze out every last drop at the end. Wash out the cloth to be used again another time. Use the funnel or pour the liquid herbal tincture into dark glass containers that are clearly labeled and capped.

     

    How Do You Take a Tincture?

    Tinctures are taken by adults by the dropperful with the exception of a garlic tincture which is just 5 drops one-2 times a day in water. If you are on drugs, discuss with your doctor.

    What is a dropperful?

    A dropperful is the amount of liquid that fills the glass tube of the dropper when the bulb on the dropper top is fully squeezed and released.

    The liquid may fill the glass tube only a small portion of the way, but that is considered a standard “dropperful”. A dropperful equals approximately 25-26 drops.

    Chart: How to Measure Herbal Tinctures & Chart

    Note: On all dropper tops, no matter how large or small of a tincture bottle it comes with, the bulb (the thing you squeeze) is standardized and the same size on them all. The bulb is what determines how much liquid fills the tube, not the length of the tube itself.

    Usage

    A standard suggested adult usage for tinctures is 1 dropperful two to three times a day. I would strongly advise you research the specific tincture you are making or ask your doctor before deciding on the amount.

    For children under 12, please see this Children’s Dosage Guide for recommendations.

    Elderberry Syrup Recipes
    Get your printable elderberry syrup recipes!

    I hope you’ll get excited about being your own herbalist. I believe we need to rediscover these lost healing arts for our families and the next generation.

    Our Creator has given us everything right here on earth that we could need.

    Happy learning!

    Tincture Making Directions: From Vanilla Extract To Medicinal Tinctures. Bottles and jars of finished tinctures.
    Print Friendly, PDF & Email
    Share4.1K
    Telegram
    Pin9.0K
    13.0K Shares
    « Rethink Medicating: Help Kid’s Focus, Sensory, or Behavioral Issues
    Honey And Cinnamon: Powerful Duo Knocks Colds And Much More »

    Related

    Hi! I’m Jacqueline!

    Thanks for being part of this journey with me.
    Welcome to my own little place on the internet! Home is where I love to be. I feel there is no greater place to incubate souls. These days you’ll find me using my experiences here to write about herbal remedies and natural health research — a big passion of mine. But being a wife and mother is not easy. It is challenging and potentially lonely. I get that. I wanted to create a place to connect with and support other moms for creating a natural, healthy, and fulfilling home life.
    Join the newsletter:

    Sent in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marsha M.

      April 11, 2016 at 3:16 pm

      I love liver cleanse tincture. Thanks for the reminder to make it again! We also LOVE Bulk Herb Store. Thanks for sharing all your interesting posts.

      Reply
    2. Mel

      April 11, 2016 at 3:36 pm

      Thank you so much! My husband and I were married 21 years before we had our only daughter. We are so blessed and thankful. It seems like our interests match up and I enjoy your blog and helps and encourages me so much, as I am in a different season of life! I am a Certified Health Minister and have been enjoying nature all my life. Only in the past 10 years, have I been serious about using these plants God provides for our nutrition and other benefits. : )

      Reply
      • Jacqueline

        April 11, 2016 at 4:15 pm

        Thank you, Mel, for sharing a bit of your story with me. It is neat to see that many of our lives do have strong similarities and we can relate. Makes me think of 2 Corinthians 1: 3-6 ~ “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” You must have read my testimony 🙂

        Reply
    3. Jenna

      April 11, 2016 at 3:36 pm

      Jacqueline,

      I can’t thank you enough for your blog, for your posts, for the information you share. I have shared this post on my blog (on facebook) and hope that is okay.

      Jenna

      Reply
    4. Suzanna

      April 11, 2016 at 3:56 pm

      Thanks so much for this post. I want to try this recipe but I only have frozen elderberries. Will they work in this recipe?

      Reply
    5. Randi

      April 11, 2016 at 4:03 pm

      I’m thrilled to learn about this website! These are just the things that I’m wanting to learn more about. I hope to order the Drink to Health kit soon.

      Blessings,
      randi

      Reply
    6. Joy

      April 11, 2016 at 4:27 pm

      My husband and I swear by the Double- E Immune Booster mix. My husband is often worn down. He works long hours so his body tends to take a beating. I always make him a tea when I start to hear him sniffle. I have never made a tincture before but it is definitely on my to do list for the winter. So thankful for the Bulk Herb Store!

      Reply
    7. Allie Kampus

      April 11, 2016 at 4:43 pm

      We use the Double E-Immune Booster for our colds too. Just found a tea ball in my grandfather’s WWII trunk and plan to try it the next time I make some. I would love to try the Herba Smoothie Mix !

      Reply
    8. Elihu

      April 11, 2016 at 5:52 pm

      Great post! I’ve been wanting to dive into tinctures for a long time. It’s a lot like making vanilla… ?

      Reply
      • Jacqueline

        April 11, 2016 at 9:38 pm

        Yes, it is, Elihu! We were just talking about that, but we’re out of vanilla beans…I need to rectify that soon!
        Blessings!

        Reply
    9. Nora Apple

      December 12, 2019 at 1:56 pm

      I always come to Deep Roots at Home for my recipes! Thanks so much Jacque!!

      Love always,
      Nora

      Reply
      • Jacqueline

        December 12, 2019 at 2:58 pm

        Aw Nora, you are the sweetest! Thank you for your love note today! I MISS you!!
        Love forever, Jacque

        Reply
    10. Denisa Reberger Timberman

      April 14, 2020 at 2:03 pm

      My first batch of Liver Cleanse Tincture is in the pantry. My next try is Dandelion Root Tincture. Thanks so much Jacqueline. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jacqueline

        April 14, 2020 at 5:15 pm

        Ooh, Denisa, that is exciting! You are well on your way to having a great medicine cabinet! Enjoy!
        God bless your family! ~J

        Reply
    11. Sheila B

      July 16, 2020 at 10:32 pm

      Hi I am interested in naturally cleansing my body , liver, kidneys, colon, etc and would like a information on what to buy to make a total body cleanse tincture or if I have to make separate tincture to get a total cleanse. I want to take control of my health and do not like chemical remedies. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank You

      Reply
      • Jacqueline

        July 17, 2020 at 12:11 pm

        Hi, Sheila B,
        May I email you with all that and a suggestion as tinctures CAN do a lot, but they cannot get to the root cause intra cellular and into the brain well at all?

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Footer

    About Deep Roots at Home

    What is Deep Roots at Home?
    Jacqueline’s Story
    Article Archives
    Contact
    Stay Updated

    Weekly updates on the topics that matter the most to you!

    Sent in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

    Popular Posts This Week
    • Methylene Blue Zaps HIV-1, Hepatitis A+C, & Ebola Virus: A Protocol
    • Storing Rice 20+ Years: Mylar vs Jars, Cooking w/o Power, Arsenic in Rice
    • Dr. Mercola: Nebulized Peroxide, the Single Most Effective Early Strategy
    • How to Store Eggs at Room Temp for 6 Months Shelf Life in Lime Water

    Affiliate Disclosure  •  Medical Disclosure  •  Privacy Policy  •  Cookie Policy

    The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, Full Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Affiliate Disclosure, and Comment Policy. Content may not be reproduced in any form. Website by Imperative Co.



    © 2006–2022 Deep Roots at Home • All Rights Reserved

    Many people don’t see me on the Deep Roots at Home Facebook page these days due to censorship.

    Come straight to Deeprootsathome.com instead and find out what you’re missing!

    You can even make DRAH your browser homepage.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “5 Easy, Homemade Remedies to Beat Coughs & Colds” printable PDF.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “5 Easy + Healthy Lifestyle Drinks” printable PDF.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Make Your Own Elderberry Syrup — with Easy Recipes!” printable PDF.

    Subscribe to Email Updates

    By adding your email address below, you agree to receive email updates from Deep Roots at Home. You’ll get 2-6 emails per month with info that we can’t share on social media and important updates. We may send occasional marketing / sales emails.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Treasured Old Books” printable guide.

    Get the printable ebook!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Dyslexia Tips” ebook from Sarah J. Brown.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Starving Brains & Poor Attention Spans in Boys: 30 Tips for Parents” printable PDF.

    Get your free ebook!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Vital Vaccine Info” printable e-book.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “31 Days of Praying Scripture for Newlyweds” printable guide.

    Get the freebie of the season!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “100 Wholehearted Books to Take Back the Culture” printable guide.

    Praying for newlyweds is perhaps the best gift we can give them! Receive this printable PDF: “31 Days of Praying Scripture for Newlyweds.” 

    Prayers for Husbands

    View our privacy policy.

    The PDF will arrive in your inbox! You’ll also get about 1-2 emails a month (including the seasonal freebies!) and can unsubscribe at any time.

    ¡Nos gustaría mantener en contacto! Y usted recibirá un obsequio importante de la temporada: “Cerebros Ambrientes y Escasa Atención En Los Niños” PDF imprimible.

    Spanish Boys Attention Spans

    Ver nuestra política de privacidad.


    ¡El PDF llegará a su buzón de entrada! ¡Usted recibirá 1 – 2 correos electrónicos al mes (incluyendo los regalos de temporada!) y puede cancelar su suscripción en cualquier momento.