Making Herbal Tinctures

First let me say that I feel a bit guilty about the fact that I have not posted any updates in a while. But the truth is we have been busy with life here at the farm; chickens and bees (and other four-legged creatures) have been consuming our existence as of late...and we are loving it!   In short order, I will be catching you up on all of our escapades .

I was speaking with a dear friend yesterday and she expressed an interest in making herbal tinctures for her family but just wasn't sure how to go about it. So this is for you darling!   Oh and by the way, my intention was to make a video tutorial, but the outtakes were getting ridiculous.  We were up to 6 outtakes folks!  So I have decided to keep it simple.  

So what exactly are herbal tinctures? Tinctures are concentrated alcohol based extracts of plants that are very potent and provide an effective way to administer herbal remedies. They are an excellent way to take herbs because not only are they simple to make, but you can make large amount with ease.  When stored properly in brown bottles tinctures can last a very long time compared to other herbal preparations. In fact, tinctures can be stored safely for several years when made with grain alcohol as the carrier.  Tinctures are also very useful when an herb needs to be used over a long period of time. Tinctures are my favorite way of storing herbs because of their versatility; generally speaking, one ounce of tincture is equivalent to one ounce of herb.

You have several options when choosing a liquid carrier for your herbal tincture:

alcohol, food grade vegetable glycerin or raw apple cider vinegar. If you use alcohol as your carrier, be sure to select one that is at least 80 to 100 proof.

“Proof” relates to the actual alcohol/water content in the alcohol. For example, an 80-proof spirit is actually 40 percent alcohol and 40 percent water. A 100 proof spirit is 50 percent alcohol and 50 percent water. The ratio in the range of 50:50 (50 percent alcohol and 50 percent water) provides the perfect balance for extracting the most beneficial properties from herbs, which explains why most tinctured formulas you come across on the market are made using an alcohol carrier. Most vodkas, gins, brandies and rums available are 80 to 100 proof, so any one of them would work just fine in an herbal tincture.

I personally prefer to use alcohol (Vodka) as a solvent because I believe it provides a more potent remedy. I find that the actual amount of alcohol you consume in any given remedy is minimal. However, if I am giving a tincture remedy to one of my small children, I simply make sure that the alcohol is completely evaporated before giving it to them. I do this by adding the tincture drops to  about 2 ounces of filtered water in a glass and waiting a few minutes before allowing them to drink the remedy.

Some individuals however, cannot consume alcohol in the slightest form and may prefer to use food grade vegetable glycerin or raw apple cider vinegar as a carrier instead. If you choose to make a tincture using vinegar it is always best to use raw apple cider vinegar as it has amazing health benefits. Synthetic chemical vinegar (what is found in most supermarket shelves) should not be used. Bragg's raw apple cider vinegar is a great choice. * If you were to use vinegar as your carrier, you would follow the same instructions for the tincture.

Glycerin based tinctures are sometimes preferred if the tincture is being used on the elderly or for small children simply because they are milder on the palate and the digestive tract.  If you choose glycerin, always make sure you use food grade vegetable glycerin.  Also bear in mind that although they do work, non-alcohol tinctures are not as potent because these carriers are just not as effective in breaking down the plant constituents, when compared to alcohol. *If you use Glycerin as your carrier, be sure to mix the amount of Glycerin (1:1 ratio) with one part water before adding it to the herbs.

If you haven't yet read my prior post about the benefits of building a home apothecary, you may read it here.  This tutorial assumes that you have already given thought to and are decided on the herbs you will be using to formulate your tincture(s).

Although more than one herb can certainly be used in a tincture, if this will be your first time making tinctures, I recommend using only one to three  herbs.  Once you become familiar with herbs and how powerful these plants can be, you may experiment more with certain herbal combinations.  I strongly recommend that you always research any herbs you choose so as to become aware of any contraindications.

So here's what you will need to get started:

- Cheesecloth for straining herbs from liquid 
- A mason type glass jar with lid for storing your tincture while it cures
- A brown bottle for storing your tincture when it is done and ready for use 
- Measuring spoons and/or cup (depending on what measurement unit you will use: i.e, 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup, tablespoon, teaspoon)
- Your selected herbs (choose organic or wild harvested whenever possible)       
- Vodka, food grade vegetable glycerin or raw apple cider vinegar (you will need to choose one of these carriers)


Making Herbal Tincture:

(Step 1)

Place your selected and measured herb(s) in a large sterilized mason jar .














(Step 2)

Cover with Vodka (or the carrier of your choice*). Stir herbs to make sure all ingredients are well incorporated.

(Step 3)
Seal the jar tightly and give it a good shake.












(Step 4)
It is extremely important that you ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS remember to label your tincture jars clearly. Not only do YOU want to be able to identify what is contained in the jar for future use, but you also want family members to be aware of what is in these jars, for their safety. Do not wait until later to label.  Do it immediately after you place lid on the jar.  Trust me, you will forget!  A simple blank paper with your hand-written legible notes is sufficient. I personally like to include: the date tincture was made, measure used (cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, etc.), list of herbs used, carrier used. A quick description of what your tincture can be used for is quite helpful as well.  Store your jar in a cool dark place for at least 3 to 4 weeks.






(Step 5) 
After 3-4 weeks, you may now open jar and strain the herbs using cheesecloth.  Place cheesecloth over a shallow bowl and pour your mixture.  With clean hands, squeeze any excess liquid.  Work quickly so that the alcohol is not evaporated from the mixture. 

(Step 6)
Pour the liquid into a sterilized amber glass bottle and cover.
















(Step 7)

Once again... LABEL, LABEL, LABEL!!!  Label the tincture bottle and store in a dark place.  Your tincture is now ready to be used.















How much tincture to take will greatly vary depending on the emotional make up of the individual, as well as their physical constitution, as all of these factors play a role in how your subject will respond to each remedy.  Generally speaking, one ounce of tincture is equal in strength to approximately 1 ounce of the powdered herb, so 3 drops will be equal to 1/2 cup of tea.   For children or those sensitive to alcohol, always dilute tincture dosage in 1 to 2 ounces of filtered water and allow alcohol to evaporate before drinking.

 

I hope you experiment with this tutorial and choose to make herbal tinctures part of your family's regular wellness routine.  There is no denying that nature provides an abundance of herbs, many of which can be found right in our own front/back yard.  I encourage you to take advantage of these gifts. 

If you are interested in learning more about herbal basics and how to make tinctures and other simple yet effective natural home remedies, look out for my book "Herbal Basics - Heal Your Family Naturally from the Outside In" which will be available online very soon.  In this book I will share my story, my journey and why I am so passionate about helping others understand how they can use herbs and real foods to heal on a deep and lasting level.

Thank you for reading and many blessings to you and yours in all of your endeavors.

NOTE:  This information is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Keep all herbs out of reach of children and pets. Special care should be taken by pregnant and/or lactating women when handling herbs.

To Bra or Not To Bra? That Is The Question.

What is the first thing you take off when you reach home after a long day?  Your jacket? Your shoes?  Or... is it your bra?  Speaking from past experience, I would dare say that most women reading this would answer their bra.

I am also noticing that more and more women are discovering that wearing a bra is not all it is hyped up to be.  Some have experienced that bras can actually make breasts droopy and stretched out; and more significantly, they can also cause cysts, pain, and even cancer.  This information is enough to make some forgo the bra altogether. After all, it was always so restrictive and uncomfortable that it was the first thing they took off . So you can say that some women have become bra-free in the name of comfort and health.

For other women however, this is not enough to convince them and their response is a resounding "no way!".  And the cancer detection and treatment industry (along with companies like Victoria's Secret) love these women. They want women to wear bras.  With one million bras sold EACH DAY in the U.S. alone, that's a lot of women binding and constricting the health out of their breasts in the name of fashion and sex appeal. Yet this is not entirely new.  Women have used a variety of garments and devices to cover, restrain, reveal, or modify their appearance.

I found it interesting to read that foot binding became popular as a means of displaying status.  It is estimated that between a billion and four billion women in China had bound feet between the 10th and 20th centuries. This process of crippling and deforming the foot to fit in ridiculously small shoes was considered a mark of status and such tiny feet were considered sexually alluring. Even when the practice was outlawed in 1912, this painful procedure was still practiced on young girls by mothers who feared their daughters would not marry well otherwise.




Corsets also bound women for centuries, to the point of disease and death. From the 14th century onwards, the undergarments of wealthier women in the West were dominated by the corset, which pushed the breasts upwards.  In the late 19th century, bras replaced the corset as the most widely used means of breast support. By the early 20th century, garments more closely resembling contemporary bras had emerged, although large-scale commercial production did not occur till the 1930s. During the 20th century, greater emphasis has been given to the fashion aspects of bras. Bra manufacturing is a multi-billion-dollar industry dominated by large multinational corporations. Bras (especially those that contain under wires) are really breast corsets. They are designed to "shape" the breasts, and this requires harmful pressure and compression of the delicate breast tissue. 

A study performed in 1991-1993 was published in the book Dressed to Kill which discovered that bras can contribute to breast cancer.  Like corsets, they constrict and interfere with circulation.  Lymph fluid cannot easily drain from a bra-constricted breast.  Backed-up fluid results in cysts and pain.  This stagnant lymph fluid cannot be adequately flushed away, concentrating waste products and toxins in the slowly toxifying breasts.  Ultimately, this can lead to cancer. 

It is interesting to note that essentially, a bra-free woman has about the same incidence of breast cancer as a man.  The tighter and longer a bra is worn, the higher the incidence.  24/7 bra wearers have over 100 times the incidence as a bra-free woman.  These findings have been confirmed by studies in China and Venezuela.  A 1991 Harvard study also found a significant bra/cancer link.

Both the lymphatic and circulatory systems provide vital nutrients and allow for the elimination of toxins. The lymphatic’s systems role is to flush out toxins and debris from the tissues. An impairment of the lymphatic system’s flow can lead to the toxification of the breast tissue.  You know how when you leave a rubber band around your wrist it cuts off circulation to your hand?  Well, a bra does the same thing to your lymph fluids - it constricts the flow. All things considered, bra-less really IS better!   

So why do so many women feel it necessary to wear bras anyway? It is obvious that no matter where we turn, we’re bombarded by the media with the idea that our breasts have to look a certain way in order to be considered attractive.  We therefore become willing participants in the effort to literally mash ourselves into these metal-reinforced contraptions. Think about it for a moment... the only people benefitting from them are the few who have decided to gawk at our chests. While we all want to look our best, it’s probably more important to place personal comfort and well-being (i.e., health) as priority over what society thinks about the appearance of our body parts.

There are healthier and MORE COMFORTABLE alternatives.  I personally forgo wearing anything whenever possible (especially if I am home or during bedtime).  However, if I am going out in public, I opt for a thin strap tank or silk cami.  Both offer support but are not restrictive, have no under wire and allow for the flow of blood and lymph fluids.

As a side note, I even wore my nursing bras well beyond the nursing phase, because they offered such great support.  If nursing bras are not a practical option, I highly recommend these very comfortable looking camis for my larger breasted sisters.  The reviews alone are quite encouraging.

 

And if you are concerned that going bra-less will actually sag your breasts, you can take comfort in the fact that a 15-year-long French study recently concluded that going bra less does not promote sagging.

So do take some time to determine what your priorities are with regard to aesthetics and health, do your research, make some informed decisions, and then go bra shopping. The best part in all of this is that you do have options.

Remember... when we are armed with new information we can make better choices that benefit our long term health. 

So what do you think after reading this?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Sources:
http://www.naturalnews.com/025315_cancer_bra_breast.html
European, Journal of Cancer 1991 ;27(2): 131-5.
Cancer is Not a Disease by Andreas Moritz

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