Re:Alcohol in Tinctures and Stephania C.

[Guest guest]

Sita, I am very alcohol intolerant. Not uncommon for us I think. It is

not necessary (nor advisable) to boil your tinctures. However, it is

quite easy to get the alcohol out of them. Simply put your amount into a

cup and pour boiling water over them; let sit for 5 to 8 minutes and the

alcohol will evaporate off. I actually put water through my coffee

maker; not boiling but it seems to work. I then take the cup outside and

drop the tincture into it and leave it. I am sensitive to the alcohol as

it evaporates off so I do that part outside. jo

[Guest guest]

Thanks a lot for that tip! I had read in a book about simmering the

tinctures, but it just seemed wrong to me, so I will try this

instead.

>

> Sita, I am very alcohol intolerant. Not uncommon for us I think.

It is

> not necessary (nor advisable) to boil your tinctures. However, it

is

> quite easy to get the alcohol out of them. Simply put your amount

into a

> cup and pour boiling water over them; let sit for 5 to 8 minutes

and the

> alcohol will evaporate off. I actually put water through my coffee

> maker; not boiling but it seems to work. I then take the cup

outside and

> drop the tincture into it and leave it. I am sensitive to the

alcohol as

> it evaporates off so I do that part outside. jo

>

[Guest guest]

I have always wondered, though, if pouring boiling water over the

tincture would degrade some of the active molecules. After all,

boiling is how you pull active ingredients out of herbs and teas. I

sometimes use hot, if not boiling water, 1/4 inch, instead of a

tincture, but I also sometimes feel it ends up less potent.

>

> Sita, I am very alcohol intolerant. Not uncommon for us I think. It is

> not necessary (nor advisable) to boil your tinctures. However, it is

> quite easy to get the alcohol out of them. Simply put your amount into a

> cup and pour boiling water over them; let sit for 5 to 8 minutes and the

> alcohol will evaporate off. I actually put water through my coffee

> maker; not boiling but it seems to work. I then take the cup outside and

> drop the tincture into it and leave it. I am sensitive to the alcohol as

> it evaporates off so I do that part outside. jo

>

[Guest guest]

Jill, I don't actually use boiling water either, rather however hot it

comes out of my drip coffee maker. Any active ingredients will remain in

the water/tincture mixture and since I drink it all, I dont' think I'm

losing anything. The only thing missing will be the alcohol that

evaporates off with the steam. My doctor, who is an extremely

knowledgeable herbalist, told me to do this so I feel safe in it. Best

wishes, jo