Herbal tinctures
Viewpoint from an alcoholic in recovery.
Far longer than you or I have been around, herbal remedies have been an important medicinal staple. From ancient Egypt to the Canon of Medicine from 1025, there is much we have learned and much we still should learn from the ancient practice. A tincture is made when herbs are soaked in a solvent and water mixture where the potency and properties of the herbs are extracted. The herbs are then often composted while the liquid is strained to remove any leftover plant pieces. This strained liquid is now the tincture.
Tinctures are popular herbals because they are easily and quickly bioavailable in the body and can offer more potency than other forms of herbal remedies like tea. A tincture made with alcohol also makes available different properties of the plants then would be available with a brewed tea or honey.
Tinctures, as I have always known them, are made with alcohol as the solvent. The solvent, or the liquid used to extract the properties of the herbs, is also called a menstruum. Until now, I had never had a desire to create my own tinctures and use home grown herbs in any way other than cooking and as a tea. There is such an abundance of herbs growing in my garden that I decided to look closer at what it would take to use them in this capacity! Maybe it would be worth it and maybe I’d enjoy it!
It’s not that I can’t find well-made tinctures to use, it’s more that I enjoy doing things myself if I can. Or at least attempting. One of my first full sentences as a child was “me do aw be self!” Life has taught me much humility, I’m not afraid to acknowledge when I should pass the reins. That doesn’t usually keep me from trying.
My joy in discovering the quiet properties of wild and domestic plants has led me to look deeper at how they could be used to benefit our health and wellbeing. It is a never ending and exciting road to travel. There are many great sources to learn from, too! If only I had more time I would have been a great many more things… Our beautiful earth is filled with treasures of herbs and plants that were designed to benefit our body systems. Our Creator knew what He was doing, and I love the journey of discovering what I can.
With the fact that herbal tinctures are most often made with alcohol as the menstruum, I almost gave up my pursuit without looking much deeper. I am an alcoholic in recovery. I haven’t had a drink in over 6 years (it seems like a lifetime ago) and I don’t ever want another drink of alcohol. Taking tinctures has never made me feel like I’m faltering from my path simply because I use them so infrequently, the ones I utilize are very low alcohol content, and it’s in a medicinal category in my mind. The alcohol content in an herbal tincture isn’t much different to me than having baking extracts on hand. Making them is a different story for me.
I DO think it would feel wrong for me to go out, buy alcohol, and have it on hand. Even for the purpose of making tinctures, the idea gives me an apprehensive shiver and it just doesn’t feel like the right thing. I always like to explore, so I’m going to share with you what I’ve learned, because I’m glad I took the time to dive deeper.
I learned much from the easy reading of The Ultimate Guide to Herbal Tinctures. As well as a great many sources and herbalists. There are ways to macerate (extract properties from herbs with a solvent) that don’t require alcohol. Glycerin, water, oil, and vinegar are some, but none have the same shelf life or efficiency of maceration as alcohol. Honey can also be used, and I make fermented garlic in honey regularly as an immune booster and cooking additive. Still, the shelf life and preservative properties of alcohol are better. These others aren’t technically called tinctures either, as I understand it. But they do contain some of the same benefits.
Not using alcohol as a solvent might require more frequent batching, more research and some trial/error. Learning from our mistakes is one of the fastest ways to improve! I would just need to be careful about the kind of mistakes allowed in this bit of science. Although, it sounds like quite a bit of work for what I want right now.
Concluding this little deep dive, I’ve decided that for the health benefits I desire for my family, for my peace of mind in recovery, and for the shelf stability, buying tinctures might be best. I’ll pass the reins on this one. There are MANY reputable sources for purchasing tinctures from people who are far more knowledgeable than me. We are blessed near where I am to have a long standing health shop run by incredible people who help me find exactly what I’m looking for as well as products I didn’t know about! As always, I won’t stop learning.
Do you use tinctures for your family? Do you make them or buy them? I’d love to hear about your adventures in herbs, how it started for you and where you are now!
If you have a history of addiction or alcohol might be a trigger for you, I want you to know there is no part of me that feels remorse about this decision to not have alcohol on hand. I’d rather protect my sobriety than make myself unnecessarily uncomfortable. Sobriety is worth it. There’s no part of me that thinks tinctures are the only way to utilize the benefits of herbs, either. Like I said, I adore doing things myself when I can. Humility in acknowledging our strengths and weaknesses fuels us on our path to success and fulfillment; admitting that this is not my undertaking at this point in my life is not a dark cloud, but a ray of sunshine.
Disclaimer: This information is in no way medical advice and is for informational and entertainment purposes. Always consult a healthcare professional before taking herbs and supplements. Juggling in the Kitchen assumes no liability for the use of the information here. Please be careful when using plants and herbs, and always be thorough in your research and seeking advice.
P.S. My gratitude is inexpressible every time you read what I write. I dance in my kitchen when someone hits the like button or shares my work. It goes a long way in growing my readership, and I thank you.
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