[SymphonicHealth] Homemade Medicine (fwd)

March 8, 2006

Homemade Medicine JoAnn Guest mrsjo-@...

Mar 06, 2006 08:01 PST

Homemade Medicine

These healthy herbal tinctures are easy to make at home.

By Rabin

Herbal medicine has long been considered " the people's medicine " for its

accessibility, safety and the ease with which remedies can be made.

Commonly throughout history, if someone wanted a particular medicine, they

needed only grow it in their garden or find a place where it grew naturally and

could be gathered.

Thoughtfulness was required about when to harvest the plant, and often the

medicine used was a tincture, the recipe for which had been passed down for

generations.

These practices were environmentally and financially sustainable and remain a

cornerstone of herbal medicine.

Those who want an alternative to conventional medicine often buy herbal products

from their alternative health-care providers or the health- food store.

The irony of this is that what was once medicine for the people now costs about

$10 an ounce. Considering that someone who takes their tinctures religiously

might go through 8 ounces in a month, that's a hefty tab to pay for something

that can be harvested in one's back yard.

Making your own tinctures is a cost-effective, creative and empowering way to

take control of your health care. It is perfect for the gardener who wants to

use what they grow for healing, the nature lover who yearns to identify and

sustainably wildcraft indigenous herbs, the crafter with the desire to turn the

dried herbs from the farmer's market into medicine, or the chronically ill

patient who needs a regular supply of remedies.

Richo Cech, owner of Horizon Herbs in , Oregon, and author of Making

Plant Medicine (Horizon Herbs, 2000), notes there's an added healing benefit to

self-made remedies. " If you make your own tincture, you have a better

connection with the medicine because it's from your own bioregion, similar to

the benefits of using local honey, " Cech says.

" And you know exactly what's in the tincture, which leads to more trust, which

leads to faith, which makes it more effective. "

Don't Let Math Stop You

Often, people are intimidated by the mathematics involved in making herbal

medicines, which include careful measuring of both the herb and the menstruum

(or solvent) to make sure they are in the proper ratio.

Bert Norgorden, founder of The Plant Works in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who has

been making tinctures since 1988, says it's best to make tinctures according to

ratios and weight, but if math is the difference between someone making their

own tincture and giving up, there is an easier way.

Tincture Resources Burch Bottle & Packaging (800) 903-2830 www.burchbottle.com

Horizon Herbs (541) 846-6704 www.horizonherbs.com

Mountain Rose Herbs (800) 879-3337 www.mountainroseherbs.com

Nichols Garden Nursery (800) 422-3985 www.nicholsgardennursery.com

Sunburst Bottle Company (916) 929-4500 www.sunburstbottle.com

The majority of herbs have a solvency between 40 and 60 percent, Norgorden says.

In other words, most of their medicinal constituents can be extracted using a

solution with that percentage of alcohol. " You can go out and get some 80 proof

vodka, then go get your herb, put it in a jar, pour enough alcohol in to cover

it and you'll have a serviceable macerate, " he adds.

With anything less than 80 proof (or 40 percent alcohol), Norgorden explains,

you run the risk that the tincture will not be adequately preserved.

Norgorden notes that this method is not appropriate for tincturing myrrh, saw

palmetto or usnea, which require more heroic measures, so these herbs are

probably not the best ones to work with as a beginner.

If you want to get the strongest tinctures possible and are willing to break out

your calculator, you might consider working with ethanol, also known as grain

alcohol or Everclear. Its 95 percent alcohol content (195 proof) makes it ideal

for mixing with distilled water to achieve a menstruum with the exact

alcohol-to-water ratio used by medicine makers.

These are the ratios that have been determined to extract the maximum amount of

medicinal qualities from an herb and can be found, along with the recipes for a

panoply of tinctures, in books like Cech's Making Plant Medicine and

Green's The Herbal Medicine Maker's Handbook (Crossing Press, 2000).

The How-To's Regardless of how particular you decide to be with your

measurements when getting started, try following the procedure (excerpted with

permission from Making Plant Medicine) for how to make an easy tincture:

1. Chop the fresh herb or grind the dried herb.

2. Place the herb in a glass jar labeled with the current date and name of the

herb.

3. Add sufficient menstruum (vodka or a specifically mixed ratio of ethanol to

water, which will vary according to the plant) to cover the herbs.

4. Screw on the lid, put the jar in a dark place at room temperature and shake

at least once daily (shaking ensures a strong extraction).

5. After two to three weeks, pour the contents of the jar through several

layers of cheesecloth or unbleached muslin and express the liquid.

6. Allow the liquid to settle in a clean jar overnight.

7. Decant the clear liquid through a filter paper.

8. Store in correctly labeled, amber glass bottles, out of the light.

Fresh Versus Dried Herbs Fresh herbs and dried herbs generally require slightly

different handling. Because fresh herbs contain more water than their dried

counterparts, they tend to require higher amounts of alcohol in the extraction

process.

For example, peppermint, spearmint and lemon balm are best extracted fresh with

pure ethanol, whereas these same herbs, when dried, require only 75 percent

alcohol. Chamomile likes 75 percent alcohol for a fresh tincture and 50 percent

when tincturing the dried flower.

It is also important to break down as much of the cell structure as possible as

a means of increasing the surface area of extraction.

This can be accomplished by chopping the plant material or by putting the herb

into a blender.

To tincture the fresh aerial (above-ground) parts of such herbs as mullein, sage

and skullcap, Cech says to finely mince the leaves and flowers on a cutting

board before putting them in a jar and covering them with menstruum.

Fresh roots, such as echinacea and goldenseal, are best sliced diagonally into

thin sections with a knife - or pruning shears if the herbs are very woody -

then put into a blender with adequate menstruum.

You can use the blender method for any fresh herb.

" The best overall advice I can give, " Cech says, " is to use a blender if you

have a mechanical press and to use the chop-and-cover method if you will be

squeezing the tincture by hand. "

Norgorden delights at mentioning a gadget he recently discovered called a potato

ricer. It can be used as a makeshift herb press and can be found at kitchen

supply stores for less than $15.

When tincturing dried herbs, both Cech and Norgorden recommend dedicating a

coffee grinder strictly for grinding herbs, lest you make tinctures with a faint

coffee taste. You also can rub dried aerial parts through a screen until

they're reduced to a coarse powder.

Some dried roots can be cut manually or run through the coffee grinder, while

others are particularly unyielding. " There are roots and barks that are

grindable in common kitchen things and some that are not, "

Norgorden warns.

" Why is stone root called stone root? Because it's hard as a rock. "

He says certain roots like osha can be put into a blender as long as they are

cut beforehand with pruning shears into marble-sized pieces.

Beginner's Herbs It is best to start with herbs that are easily obtainable and

have many medicinal uses. Lemon balm, an antiviral and mood-elevating herb, can

be tinctured fresh, right out of the garden using a ratio of 1 part herb to

2 parts pure ethanol.

If you want to tincture the dried herb, use a ratio of 1 part herb to 5 parts

menstruum containing 75 percent alcohol. These same ratios, both fresh and dry,

are considered standard herb-to-menstruum ratios and hold true for peppermint,

spearmint, lavender and many other herbs.

If you don't want to consult a book for the specific recipes, you can assume the

standard herb-to-menstruum ratios (1:2 for fresh and 1:5 for dried) and follow

the procedure for making an easy tincture with vodka.

Ultimately, making your own tinctures is about self-healing and a connection to

nature. Nature is notoriously imprecise, so you don't need to worry too much

about the minute details.

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Rabin is a clinical herbalist and freelance writer. She lives, writes,

practices and teaches herbal medicine in Portland, Oregon.

Medicine Maker's Vocabulary Macerate: To soak herbs in menstruum for the purpose

of extraction.

Maceration: The plant/menstruum mixture before it is pressed and becomes a

tincture.

Marc: The plant material left after the medicinal constituents have been

extracted out of it and the menstruum pressed from it.

Menstruum: The solvent used for extracting the medicinal constituents out of

herbs. This is very often a mixture of ethanol and distilled water, but

glycerin and apple cider vinegar also are used.

http://www.herbsforhealth.com/index.php?page=article & story=22

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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:40 am Post subject: How do you make your own

tincture?

www.alternative-medicine-message-boards.info

Herbal Forum

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http://ibiblio.org/herbmed/neat-stuff/tincture.html

The question:

I've seen lots of info on this list, but I would like to get specific.

(This is an easy one) How do you make your own tincture?

The answer:

A fresh herb tincture a) official Take

1 part of fresh herb (by weight, eg. 100 g) to

2 parts of 95 % alcohol (by volume, eg. 2 dl)

Chop up your herb. Leaf roughly, 1 " is good enough, root more finely, as it's

harder, 1/5-1/10 " is good for that. (Don't use your vitamix or oster, if you do

you'll get lots of inerts into your tincture, as cell walls rupture). Pour herb

into glass jar, cover with alcohol, close tight lid tightly, let sit in a

coolish shady spot for 2-4 weeks.

Strain (I use a cheesecloth, and wring), pour into dark glass bottles, label

(1:2 95 % Yarrow flowering tops, July 2000).

simplers Take enough chopped-up herb to jam a glass jar full, add enough 95 %

alcohol to cover, close tight lid tightly, let sit in a coolish shady spot for

2-4 weeks, strain, bottle, label.

A dried herb tincture a) official Take

1 part of dried herb (by weight, eg. 100 g) to

5 parts of a mix of alcohol and water (by volume, eg. 5 dl)

Crush up your herb (don't powder it), pour into glass jar, add menstruum (this

is your alcohol-water-mix), close tight lid tightly, let sit in a coolish shady

spot for 2-4 weeks. Strain, bottle, label (1:5 50 % Yarrow flowering tops, July

2000).

simplers Take enough crushed-up herb to jam a glass jar full, add enough

alcohol-water-mix to cover, close tight lid tightly, let sit in a coolish shady

spot for 2-4 weeks, strain, bottle, label.

What percentage of alcohol should I use for dried herb?

You'll find a good Materia Medica here:

http://chili.rt66.com/hrbmoore/HOMEPAGE - go for the manuals. This will tell

you the alcohol percentages for dried herb. Note that assumes you

know that fresh herb should be tinctured at 95 % alcohol; thus his notation for

fresh herb tincture is 1:2, not 1:2 95 %.

What kind of alcohol?

Vodka is good, but when it says 40% somewhere on the label that means that the

rest is water.

So get as high as you can lay your hands on, and yes, it's expensive, if you're

not close to the Mexican border. In Mexico 95 % alcohol is USD 5 a gallon, and

it's got a nice sweet taste, because it's made from sugarcane.

Everclear is a brand of pure alcohol available in some states in the US; there

are other brands, and pure alcohol (95 % or 190 proof) is not available in all

states.

Note that if you use lower percentages than indicated for dried herb your

quality suffers immensely. Note that if you use significantly less than 95 % on

fresh herb you have a large risk that your tincture will rot while it's still in

the glass jar, or later on in the bottle.

Yech!

(This is the voice of experience, here...)

The rule of thumb is, you want the water either in the plant or in the

menstruum, except for herbs that are resins (myrrh, for instance, needs

95 % alcohol even though it's " dry " ). Terminology: menstruum is your alcohol,

or your alcohol-water mixture; in teas the menstruum is just water, in herbal

vinegars it's (surprise surprise) vinegar.

How long is the tincture fresh?

Depends on the herb, but a rule of thumb would be about 10 years.

Except for Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd's purse), Lobelia, and

officinalis (lemon balm), off the top of my head; these are good for a year,

max, so you need to tincture them fresh every summer if you use them.

Cheers Henriette

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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:49 am Post subject: Herbal Preparations

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http://www.wrc.net/wrcnet_content/dietplans/appendix1.htm

This appendix briefly reviews the basic methods of herbal preparation.

Many of the old herbals and herb texts have methods which vary slightly.

Working directly with herbs is the first and best way of developing effective

preparation methods.

Herbs are medicinal plants and the preparations made from herbs can be taken

internally or used externally. In the case of internal application, the choice

of delivery method includes infusions, decoctions, macerations, juices,

tinctures, extracts, powders, etc.

External use can involve poultices, lotions, compresses, dressings, eyebaths,

gargles, enemas and boluses.

An alphabetical list of preparations follows:

Capsules are easy to make. Simply take ground herbs and insert them into

soluble hard gelatin capsules. Capsules come in various sizes - " 000 " to " 5 " -

to permit easy swallowing. The " 5 " is the smallest size while " 000 " is the

largest. Why do we encapsulate herbs? One reason is to improve palatability

(since some herbs taste indescribably bad). A second reason is convenience,

since less water and no special equipment is needed. A final reason is

compliance. Keep in mind that people vary widely in their ability to swallow

capsules or tablets. Some prefer capsules to a tea. Others require a liquid

because of an individual problem swallowing capsules.

Concentrate is a fluid extract strengthened through evaporation of fluid.

Alcohol concentrates are produced by allowing the alcohol to evaporate without

in any way decreasing the strength of the herb.

Water concentrates are usually made by slowly simmering the herbs until the

volume of the extractive agent is reduced.

Decoction is a water solution of plant extracts. They are prepared at a boiling

temperature. Decoctions differ from infusions in that coarse and brittle plant

structures (the roots, bark and chips) are the base.

Because of their volatile nature, decoctions are intended for immediate use, and

should typically be put to use within twenty-four hours.

Some authorities state that they should not be kept longer then six hours before

application. The longevity of decoctions may be increased by the use of certain

preserving agents, such as glycerin, or refrigeration. A standard decoction

consists of fifty grams of closely ground plant material in 1000 cc of cold

water. The procedure of preparation is as follows:

The ground plant (approximately 50 gms) should be placed into a vessel which has

a lid. Never use aluminum or iron cookware. Stainless steel, porcelain or

Pyrex® cookware is suitable. One quart (1000 cc) of cold water should be added.

Mix and then place the vessel over heat and bring to a boil and simmer for

fifteen to twenty minutes. Remove from the heat and cool to about body

temperature. Then pour the decoction into a jar through a suitable strainer.

Since some of the fluid will have evaporated during boiling, you will end up

with less than one quart of fluid.

Enema is the introduction of a large amount (three to eight cups) of liquid into

the bowel via an enema tube. An enema is carried out to disencumber an

obstructed bowel, to cleanse it, or to serve as a means of introducing nutrition

into the body when an individual is unable to take nourishment otherwise. A

good cleansing enema consists of warm (not hot) water and nothing else, although

herbs (like coffee) can be used for special purposes.

Extract is a solution of the essential constituents of a herbal agent.

It is prepared by boiling the plant material in water and then evaporating the

strained decoction to a desired concentration.

Extracts harbour the more active principles of the medicinal plants, allowing

the less active principles to be removed as a dross. Various solvents may be

used including alcohol, water and glycerin. Extracts should always be prepared

at the lowest temperature possible that is compatible with good extraction of

the healing principles. If care is not taken, some of the lighter and more

volatile oils and other important ingredients may be lost. In addition, the

vessel in which the extract is prepared should always be tightly covered until

such time as the extract has reached a sufficiently cool temperature (i.e., body

temperature).

Fluid Extract is an alcohol or glycerin preparation of herbal extract containing

the active constituents in a definite ratio of plant material to solvent. There

are several types of fluid extracts.

Heated extracts are prepared by boiling (but preferably simmering) a herbal

agent in water and then evaporating the strained decoction to a desired

concentration - this yields a more concentrated herbal remedy.

Fluid extract is made by evaporating an already prepared fluid (such as an

infusion or decoction) to the desired concentration.

Cold extract is similar to an infusion. It is prepared by taking twice as much

herb as is desired for an infusion and then letting it sit in an enamel or

non-metallic pot for eight to twelve hours. It is then strained and taken as

one would take an infusion.

Glycerin is often used as a preserving agent in extracts. Glycerin can be

derived from a vegetable or petroleum base. Preferably, use only the glycerin

which has come from a vegetable base.

Fomentation is a herbal preparation used to draw out poison, allay irritation,

reduce inflammation or relieve pain. To make a fomentation, prepare the herb as

a tea (as either an infusion or decoction), strain and then absorb it into a

piece of muslin, cotton wool, towel, flannel or gauze (natural fiber material).

Wring out the cloth sufficiently so that it is not dripping and then place it on

the affected area.

Fomentations are usually applied as hot as can be tolerated and then reapplied

as they cool or dry. The fomented area is often covered with a sheet of plastic

and then a towel to keep it moist and hot. A hot apple cider vinegar

fomentation is excellent for arthritis, rheumatism and other types of aches.

Infusion is prepared by steeping a herbal agent in liquid, usually water.

Domestic teas are usually prepared this way - herbs are submerged in hot or

boiling water and allowed to steep for a certain length of time. Cold infusions

are made in a similar manner, the only difference being that cold water is used,

often dripping the water slowly over the herb. Generally, infusions are made

from the more delicate parts of the plant, such as the buds, leaves, or flowers

(you will recall that decoctions are prepared from the coarser parts, such as

the roots, bark or chips).

Juice, also called an " express " , is prepared by juicing a fresh herb, with great

emphasis on the word " fresh " . The juicing can be done with either an electric

juicer, or hand juicer, or a press. Juices are typically the best embodiment of

the active ingredients of a herb.

Juices may also be extracted by placing the herbs, wrapped in muslin cloth, in a

mortar and then crushing them with a pestle.

Liniment is a liquid or semi-liquid preparation of a herb. Liniments are

applied to relieve skin irritation and muscle pain and include herbal oils,

tinctures or liquids. They are intended for application to the skin by gentle

friction or massage. Liniments are thinner than ointments and have application

primarily as anodynes (pain relievers) or counterirritants.

Maceration is a term synonymous with cold infusion. The herb (approximately 50

gms) is placed in a 1000 cc menstruum (usually alcohol but potentially water).

Oils are prepared by taking a specified amount of herbs and mixing them, crushed

or whole (depending on the herbs), with a botanical oil. The amount of oil used

depends on the herb and the desired strength of the final preparation, but two

parts of oil for each part of herb is regarded as an ideal ratio. Some oils,

such as Balm of Gilead, are best heated (but not boiled) for a given length of

time (e.g. 20 minutes), while others, such as garlic oil, are best steeped for

several days, and then strained. Always use an oil of high quality, such as a

cold- pressed olive or almond oil. Essential oils differ from oil preparations

as these are the volatile oils present in the herb (e.g. clove oil, cinnamon

oil.)

Ointment, sometimes called salve, is a soft, semi-solid herbal preparation,

prepared as follows:

A herbal preparation (i.e. an infusion or decoction) is placed in an oil and

the water is evaporated. The result is then mixed with heated lanolin or lard.

Melted beeswax is subsequently mixed in until the desired consistency is

obtained. And there is your ointment! A little gum benzoin or a drop of

tincture of benzoin is a helpful preservative.

In hotter climates, more beeswax is necessary to maintain stiffness.

In general, salves tend to have less beeswax than ointments.

Poultice is a soft, usually heated, semi-liquid herbal mass which is spread on a

cloth and then applied to an area of the body. A bruised herb is mixed with

water, heated, applied to a cloth and placed on the appropriate area. The

poultice is easily applied if heaped onto a cloth and then wrapped or placed on

the desired area. The cloth should be moistened frequently to keep it wet and

heated. Non-irritating herbs come in direct contact with the skin. While most

poultices can be left in contact with skin for a long time, those that can act

as irritants should be applied for short periods only (a mustard plaster or this

type of poultice needs a layer of wax paper between the poultice and skin).

After removing the poultice, it is advisable to wash the treated area, using

water or a herbal tea (such as chamomile or mugwort). Covering the area with

plastic will keep the water from evaporating and permit its absorption into the

skin. The area may also be covered with a towel to keep the heat in.

Syrup is a thick, sticky, liquid-like preparation. A herbal syrup is made by

taking a herbal agent and boiling, simmering, or heating it in honey and/or

glycerin, and then straining it through cheese cloth.

Often a tea is made first, strained, concentrated, and then the syrup or

glycerin or honey is added. Syrups are especially useful for administering

medicines to children or fussy adults. Some syrups are made in a vegetable

base.

Tincture is, technically, a fluid extract but in this case the medicinal virtues

are withdrawn into an alcohol, glycerin, or vinegar solution (acid tincture)

since water alone, for some herbs, will not retrieve some of the medicinal

principles. The menstruum (the alcohol, glycerin, etc.) also acts as a

preservative. A typical tincture is prepared by steeping one part herb in two

parts of alcohol for ten to fourteen days (maceration.) The resulting mixture is

then strained, poured into a sealed jar, stored in a dark place, and shaken

twice daily. A herb prepared in tincture form will last virtually forever.

There are several other " high tech " ways to make botanical preparations.

Hypercritical carbon dioxide is used as a pure " solvent " for very expensive

volatile oil extraction. This technique is further discussed in the Textbook of

Advanced Herbology. Freeze drying is also used to get active ingredients out of

plants and preserve them. The technique is used in the coffee industry as well

as for herbs. Fresh plant extracts are becoming commercially popular. In these

cases, fresh plants are used to make the tincture rather than dried material.

Sometimes this results in a more potent preparation, other times less potent.

The properties of a fresh plant extract will also vary from dried plant

extracts, both positively and negatively.

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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:50 am Post subject: Herbal Tinctures

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Herbal Tinctures Herbal tinctures are concentrated liquid extracts of the

medicinal properties of herbs. Tinctures represent one of many different ways

to prepare and use herbs. The terms tincture and extract are often used

interchangeably. Technically these terms are an indication of strength used by

manufactures.

ALCOHOL TINCTURES

In most cases you should choose to make alcohol tinctures because of its

superior qualities. Alcohol will extract volatile oils and most alkaloids from

your herbs and will preserve your tinctures longer.

Most herb tinctures will maintain their potency for many years. A selection of

dried herbs in your medicine cabinet has a shelf life of approximately one year.

Alcohol also acts as a carrier for your herbs causing them to be rapidly

absorbed into the bloodstream when you take them.

If you don't wish to consume alcohol it is possible to put the required dosage

into a cup of boiled water. The heat will cause the alcohol to evaporate

leaving the therapeutic qualities of the herb in the water.

For recovering alcoholics, liver problems, children or sensitivity to alcohol it

is possible to make your tinctures using vegetable glycerin or raw vinegar.

Both glycerin and vinegar tinctures will be less potent and have shorter shelf

lives.

To make an alcohol tincture you will need the herb, 100 proof alcohol and a

labeled glass jar. An alcohol tincture is most often 50% alcohol and 50% water.

100 proof vodka naturally contains the appropriate ratios of water to alcohol.

You can use gin, brandy or rum if you prefer.

Do not use isopropyl rubbing alcohol which is very toxic when ingested!

Choose fresh plants for making your tinctures whenever possible.

Fresh plants may contain properties that are lost or altered when the plant is

dried. Dried herbs may be used when they are of good quality. Do not harvest

plants that have been exposed to pesticides, herbicides, car emissions and other

toxic substances.

Manually remove any dirt from your plants. Chop the plants up into small pieces

so that the alcohol will be able to contact a lot of surface.

Sometimes a blender is useful for the chopping hard roots. Use 100 proof vodka

if you need liquid in the your blender to chop the herbs effectively.

Place the chopped herbs in a glass jar and cover with alcohol plus another inch

of alcohol above the level of the herbs. Shake the mixture well to expose all

the surfaces to the alcohol. Label the jar with the contents and the date.

If you make your tincture using dried herbs they may absorb a lot of alcohol in

the first couple days. If this happens simply add enough alcohol to cover the

herbs again. Shake your tincture everyday throughout the next six weeks.

If necessary, you may begin to use your tincture after two weeks but allow at

least six weeks extraction time before straining. I often leave my herbs in the

alcohol much longer than six weeks and strain it only when I've taken out enough

tincture to expose some of the herbs to air.

It is convenient if you have small amber dropper bottles to put your finished

tinctures in so you can easily carry them with you and measure dosages.

The method that was used to determine the amount of alcohol to use in our

tinctures is called the Simpler's Method.

GLYCERIN TINCTURES

Glycerin is very sweet and will dissolve mucilage, vitamins and minerals. It

will not dissolve the resinous or oily properties of herbs very well. Because

glycerin is sweet it is an excellent choice for children's remedies. Make

glycerin tinctures in small amounts because it will not last as long as an

alcohol tincture, about 1 to 3 years. Be sure to use 100 % vegetable glycerin.

Follow the same basic instructions for making the alcohol tincture substituting

glycerin for alcohol. To make a glycerin tincture you can cover your herbs with

100 % glycerin alone or combine 3/4 part glycerin with 1/4 part water. Water

also dissolves some properties of herbs into solution so I recommend using it in

your glycerin tinctures when you are tincturing dried herbs.

VINEGAR TINCTURES

Vinegar primarily dissolves alkaloids. It does not draw all the medicinal

properties from your herbs. Use vinegar for people sensitive to alcohol or for

tonic herbs that you will be taking over long periods of time. Vinegar

tinctures have a short shelf life, 6 months to a year if stored in a cool dark

place.

Make your vinegar tincture in the same manner as you do using alcohol.

Make sure the herbs are completely submerged in the vinegar. If you are using

fresh herbs, spread them out in an airy place to wilt them first.

This reduces the water content and reduces the chances of spoilage.

DOSAGES

Dosages for herbal tinctures are best determined individually based upon the

power of the herb & the reason for its use. A couple of good reference books is

the most reliable way of choosing the correct dose.

The dosage is dependent upon the illness you are treating and the power of the

herbs you are using. For most purposes, herbalist use gentle herbs that can be

safely used in large dosages. Commercial tinctures are labeled with the

recommended dosage, usually 10-30 drops three times per day. Sometimes ten to

thirty drops of tincture is sufficient for a therapeutic dose, other times you

may need a teaspoon every hour.

Equivalents

60 drops = 1 teaspoon

4 ml. = 1 teaspoon

1 ounce = 28.4 grams (solid)

1 fluid ounce = 29.57 ml.

1 teaspoon tincture = 2 " OO " capsules Dosages for children are not provided in

most herbals. To determine the correct dose you need to consider the size of

the child, the ailment, the power of the herb you intend to use, and the adult

dosage.

Young's Rule for determining dosage uses the child's age divided by twelve plus

the age. The dosage for a 4 year old:

4/12+4 = 4/16 = 1/4 of the adult dose.

's Rule for determining dosages divides the weight of the child by

150 to give the approximate fraction of the adult dose. Dosage for a

40 lb. child: . 40 /150 = .26 or approx. 1/4 the adult dose.

HERBS TO TINCTURE When using herbs to help maintain the health of your family

you won't need to have a large number of herbs on hand for general use. Some of

the most commonly used herbs are listed here as a basic starting point.

These herbs are mild in action and non-toxic. Add less commonly used herbal

tinctures to your medicine chest when you know they will be useful to you.

BURDOCK ROOT (Arctium lappa) - Burdock aids liver function, purifies blood, and

is antiseptic. It is effective in treating systemic skin disorders such as

psoriasis, eczema, acne and dandruff. Burdock is also useful for arthritic

conditions, rheumatism, and many types of infections. It is the primary

ingredient in ESSIAC TEA, a Native American cancer formula. Burdock root is

commonly eaten as food among the Chinese. The boiled roots, called gobo, have a

mild flavor similar to potatoes.

Dosage for tincture is 1/2 teaspoon 3-4 times a day.

DONG QUAI ROOT ( sinensis) - Dong quai is a tonic herb rich in minerals

and iron and is an excellent remedy for many gynecological problems. Many women

have found dong quai to be useful in treating P.M.S. and symptoms of menopause.

Dong quai is a uterine tonic and hormonal regulator. It is a specific for

menstrual cramps, irregularity, dysmenorrhea, and delayed or absent menstrual

cycles. Dong quai can stimulate bleeding and is not recommended for use during

the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.

Dong Quai also acts as a blood purifier and antispasmodic, useful for treating

heart palpitations, insomnia and cramps.

Dosage of dong quai tincture is 1/4 teaspoon twice a day.

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale) - Dandelion root stimulates and aids the liver

in the elimination of toxins from the blood. Use dandelion for liver disorders,

and gall bladder problem. The liver is responsible for so many functions

important to good health, such as filtering the blood of toxins, regulating and

normalizing hormone production, and metabolism of fats, cholesterol and enzymes.

Dandelions action upon the liver makes it useful for treating a large number of

ailments. Dandelion is useful for P.M.S., menopause, hypoglycemia, recent onset

diabetes, high blood pressure and digestive disturbances. You can use dandelion

root on a regular basis for cleansing and toning the liver.

Dandelion leaf is one of our best diuretic herbs because it contains large

amounts of potassium which is lost when the kidneys are stimulated by diuretics.

Use for treating water retention due to heart problems or P.M.S.

Dandelion leaves are also a wonderful spring green. They can be eaten freshly

steamed or marinated. Dandelion greens are very rich in vitamin A, potassium

and minerals.

Dosage for dandelion tincture is 1/2 teaspoon 3-4 times per day for the root or

leaf. There is no known toxicity so you can eat as much as you like of the

greens.

ECHINACEA - ( Echinacea purpurea or E. angustifolia ) This herb is the most

widely consumed herb in the world today. It is used internally to activate the

immune system when fighting colds and flu, or almost any type of infection. You

can use echinacea tincture whenever you feel your body is fighting an ailment.

In Germany, studies have shown that echinacea has also been found to be useful

for some arthritic diseases, certain cancers as well as many viral and bacterial

infections.

The root is the most powerful part of the plant. Two species, Echinacea

purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia, are commonly used. Both species are

powerful, but it is best to choose E. purpurea because it is the most abundant

species. E. angustifolia is becoming rare in the wild. Many people cultivate

echinacea in their gardens, commonly known as Purple Coneflower. To avoid

further depletion of wild echinacea plants, try to buy only cultivated plants or

grow your own.

Dosage for echinacea tincture is 1/2 teaspoon every 2 hours for acute conditions

and 3 times per day for chronic conditions.

HAWTHORNE (Crataegus oxyacantha) - Hawthorne berries are a circulatory system

tonic useful for treating both high and low blood pressure, palpitations and

arteriosclerosis.

Hawthorne is also effective in relieving insomnia. For a synergistic cardiac

tonic blend combines equal parts of hawthorne berries and motherwort herb.

Motherwort has properties similar to hawthorne.

Dosage for hawthorne tincture is 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon 3 times per day.

NETTLES (Urtica urens) - Nettles are rich in minerals, vitamins, and

chlorophyll. The new shoots are eaten lightly steamed in the spring.

They contain the indole histamine which makes them useful for allergies and

asthma. Nettles are a tonic and general detoxifying remedy for the whole body,

primarily for the lungs, stomach and urinary systems.

Use nettles for allergies, asthma, eczema, urinary complaints and arthritic and

rheumatic problems. Nettle root is used for benign prostate enlargement.

Nettles offer the most benefit if they are tinctured using the fresh herb. With

careful attention and a firm grasp you can pick nettles without getting stung,

or wear long sleeves and gloves. Nettles lose their sting when they are dried.

Dosage of nettle tincture is 10 - 30 drops 3 times per day.

USNEA (Usnea barbata) - Usnea is an herbal antibiotic useful for treating

respiratory infections, colds & flu, urinary tract infections, bacterial

infections and fungal infections. Usnea inhibits the growth of staphylococcus,

streptococcus and pneumonococcus. At the onset of an illness I use a

combination of echinacea and usnea. I have had great results using this herb

and would not be without it. The active ingredient in usnea does not dissolve

well in water so the tinctured form is more effective than tea.

Dosage for usnea tincture is 1/2 teaspoon 3 - 4 times per day.

VALERIAN ( Valeriana officinalis ) - Valerian is sedative and antispasmodic

useful for insomnia, nervousness, pains and the symptoms of stress. It has a

strong odor and taste that is disagreeable to many but its effectiveness makes

it a worthwhile herb to have in your medicine chest. Tincture valerian alone or

combine with skullcap, hops, and passion flower for a synergistic combination.

You can grow valerian in your garden for your own supply of fresh root.

The odor of the fresh root is not as disagreeable as the dried root.

Dosage for valerian tincture is 10 drops to 1 teaspoon three times a day, or as

needed.

GATHERING & HARVESTING HERBS

With a little effort you can find many useful herbs for tincturing growing near

your home. If you want to obtain your herbs this way you will need to pay

attention to these plants so that you can harvest them at the appropriate time.

The general rule is to harvest the above ground portions of the plant when it is

flowering and harvest roots when the above ground portions begin to die back.

You can find many useful herbs growing near your home. Perhaps in your lawn, a

meadow, or in a wooded area. If the herb is growing in an area that is free

from chemical contamination then it is safe to harvest some for your own use.

Avoid harvesting from fields that may have been sprayed with pesticides and from

harvesting along roadways where the plants absorb pollutants released from cars.

Please honor the ethical wildcrafting guidelines. It is not difficult for us to

severely threaten a plant species due to over- harvesting.

We see this with many herbs that are valuable to us such as ginseng, echinacea

and goldenseal. If you choose to collect your own herbs, remember to show

appreciation for these healing gifts the earth provides to us and collect in a

way that helps the plants to reproduce and flourish in their natural

environments.

The information contained here is a sharing of the authors experiences and those

of other herbalist. It is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe. This

information is not a substitute for professional health care and guidance.

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[SymphonicHealth] Homemade Medicine (fwd)

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