Everyday Herbal

Ingredients/Materials:

• Vegetable Glycerine
• Distilled Water
• Powdered or Cut Herb
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Quart Mason Jar
• Measuring Cups
• Colander
• Bowl
• Unbleached muslin- I just buy a few yards at a time from the fabric store and wash it with some natural soap or just in hot water than I cut it into 18×18 inch pieces as needed
• A dark brown glass bottle

Basic Recipe:

• 2 parts Vegetable Glycerine
• 2 parts Distilled Water
• 1 part Powdered Herb or 2 parts Cut or Whole Herb

For a quart-size mason jar, the recipes translates as follows:

• 1 cup Vegetable Glycerine
• 1 cup Distilled Water
• 1/2 cup Powdered Herb

Step 1: Sterilize all containers with hot soapy water or hydrogen peroxide.

Step 2: Measure the liquids.

Pour liquid into the jar.

Step 3: Measure the herbs.  If you are new to herbs and tincturing try starting with a single herb like Red Raspberry.  If you are very familiar with herbs or feeling ambitious try and herbal formula.

Add the herb to the jar.

Step 4: Shake well to combine the herbs and liquid.

Step 5: Wait 10-14 days shaking the jar 2 times a day.  Don’t stress if you go longer than 14 days.  Tinctures have sat on my counter waiting to be strained for months.  Just make sure you keep shaking them.

Step 6: Strain the herbs from the liquid.  Again, sterilize all of your containers with hydrogen peroxide.   Place the colander in a bowl.  It is best if the bottom of the colander does not touch the bottom of the bowl.

Place the unbleached muslin over the colander.  Shake your herbs well for the final time.

Holding all sides of the muslin, slowly pour the herbs from the jar onto the muslin.

Grab all the corners of the muslin together in one hand making sure that all of it is gathered so that herb does not spill out while you are pressing.

Twist and press to squeeze the liquid from the cloth.  Continue squeezing until you are no longer able to squeeze any liquid from the cloth.  Sometimes I ask my husband to give it a final few squeezes since he is stronger.

The herb left in the cloth should be dry.  You can throw this herb away or use it as a compost.  You can rinse and reuse the cloth.

Step 7: Store the final product in a dark glass jar in a dark cool place.  It will keep for up to 3 years.

I have tried to tincture in larger jars, but it makes it harder to strain and press.  I have found that the quart-size mason jar with 1/2 cup herb works great.  This usually makes a little over 12 ounces which is about 3 of the size bottle you see above.

Filed under: Making Your Own, Tinctures on November 20th, 2009 | No Comments »