The Basics of Tincturing by Oak

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Throughout the ages tincturing has been used by herbalists, physicians
and alchemists as a method of extracting and preserving the concentrated
essences of natural herbs. Though tincturing is not suitable for all herbals,
it is the appropriate method for the great majority.
The definition of a tincture for our purposes is an alcoholic extract of
leaves or other plant material. In herbal medicine, alcoholic tinctures are
often made with various concentrations of alcohol, 25% being the most
common. In alchemical pursuits the alcohol concentration is much higher,
95% being the most desired. Glycerin and vinegar can be substituted for
alcohol as a solvent in tincturing but both have their disadvantages. The
neutral pH of alcohol makes it the most versatile for use with both acidic
and alkaline constituents. This article will deal only with alcohol as the
solvent and dried herbs as the material.
The process of tincturing is actually very simple to perform and will keep
your concentrations preserved indefinitely if proper storage is followed.
The materials required are easily obtained and low cost. I encourage
everyone interested to try tincturing for their own medicinal use.
The key requirement, where you cannot make short cuts is in the quality of the herb. Purchase only organically grown herbs from reputable sellers or
simply grow and dry your own for quality assurance. Aside from the herb,
most of the other needs can be substituted as needed or to fit your
budget.
Materials list:
Note Book
Mortar and Pestle
Coffee grinder (optional)
Alcohol (100 proof Vodka). Other clear alcohols may be substituted but
not recommended.
1 Quart glass jars with large mouth and lid (Ball Mason are my preferred).
1 Quart graduated measuring cup.
Waxed paper or Freezer paper
Masking tape (for labeling)
Cheese Cloth or a fine strainer
Scale (digital preferred)
Gallon of Distilled Water (I would not substitute here if possible)
Amber or Green bottle with a good seal (for storage of tincture). I find that Grolsch beer bottles work perfectly and you get to enjoy the beer first.
The Process:
To begin, you will open your notebook and jot down the date, time, type of
alcohol and herb you are working with. Notes are important for future
reference. Next you will make your herb ready by removing any chaff or
debris that does not belong. We want only good quality herb for our work.
After you are satisfied with your herb you will measure out the amount you
desire to work with and make an entry in your notebook. I recommend no
more than 25 grams or 1oz., for your first tincture of every herb you work
with. Now place your desired amount in your mortar and use your pestle
to grind the herb as well as you can. The finer the grind, the better its
essences will release (avoid reducing the herb to a powder as you may
have difficulty in separation later). If working with an herb that is difficult
such as woody herbs or roots, the coffee grinder may be used make the
task easier before finishing with the mortar & pestle. Now, touch the herb
with your hands, feel its energy. Smell the essence. Personal contact is
very beneficial to your work.
Carefully pour your herb into your glass jar. Guesstimate the amount of
liquid you will need to completely cover your herb. This is why I like the
Mason jars as they have measured lines on the newer ones. Since we are
working towards a medicinal tincture in this lesson we will create a 50/50
mixture of alcohol and distilled water which will reduce the alcohol content
to 25%. That, and good alcohol is not cheap. Take your guestimation in
half and pour that amount of alcohol into your graduated quart followed by
the same amount of distilled water. Record these amounts in your notes.
Now, add some of the mixture to your herb. Allow it to soak in for a few
moments and see what level you have maintained. The solvent should
reach 1 finger (about a half inch) above the level of the herb. If not then
add more solvent until this level is reached. If you run short then guesstimate again and mix more solvent. If the herb is not completely covered, you run the risk of spoilage in the upper portions. Make a note of the total amount of solvent needed as different herbs will need differing amounts of solvent due to absorbency. You should always leave at least a third of the jar empty for air and expansion.
Once you have the correct (or close) level of solvent, it is time to close up
your jar. Cut a square of wax (or parchment) paper that will easily cover
the top of your jar and use a ring or lid to seal it. Label your jar and set it
in a dark, cool place for 14 days. You can vary the time as you like
between 7 days and whenever as long as the herb remains completely
covered by the solvent. You should check your jar daily for coverage and
to give it a swirl to stir it up. This not only assists in removing more of the
beneficial essence but keeps you in personal contact with your tincture.
It is now time to strain and bottle your new tincture. I generally fold 3 or 4
layers of cheesecloth for this, but if you have a fine strainer available this
should work as well. Holding your cheesecloth or strainer over a large
bowl, pour the contents of your jar through your strainer and into the bowl
(you may need an extra set of hands for this). When the jar is empty, set it
aside for washing and press or squeeze as much of the remaining liquid
from your herb as possible and safely dispose of the plant material. You
may get small particles through the strainer. This is not a concern as you may strain again through a coffee filter if desired (though not necessary
for quality). Use a funnel to pour the tincture into your green or amber
glass storage container. Amber or green glass will prevent UV light from
reducing the quality of your tincture over time. Be sure to label your
tincture and finish adding any notes. This completes the process; you will
now have captured the concentrated essence of your herb.