Tinctures

[Seaweed]

So as not to derail the herbal blog thread. I was wondering if there is a way of making herbal tinctures without alchohol? I don't drink at all really & I don't feel right getting cheap vodka or brandy to make tinctures with. I do realise that some things are better extracted in alchohol but I was wondering what you all use?

[Wonder-Full]

From my recent reading, you can make them in vinegar (I have a plantain tincture I made that way) but some herbs are better extracted in alcohol. I have just bought a bottle of 80% proof vodka to make some serious ones at some stage (couldn't find 100%).

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

If you don't use alcohol you are pretty much stuck with teas, or decoctions.

[Seaweed]

So what brand of vodka or brandy would you use? I was also under the impression that teas & decoctions where not as concentrated as tinctures. Plus I am sure there are substances that only extract into alchohol?

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

So what brand of vodka or brandy would you use? I was also under the impression that teas & decoctions where not as concentrated as tinctures. Plus I am sure there are substances that only extract into alchohol?

They are all pretty much the same proof rating, and all pretty much the same price...

Teas and decoctions are less potent, but once upon a time, that's all people used.

You need a good book on the topic. "The complete medicinal herbal" by Penelope Ody is one....

[Barefoot]

There's oil infusions too.
http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/modeuse/oilinfus.htm

[Wonder-Full]

you can also infuse in honey. To get a stronger "tea" you can make Infusions - which is a much larger amount of dried herb steeped for 4-8hrs and then drunk.

[Seaweed]

I was actually thinking of trying to make elderberry honey this year. Maybe I will even try some elderflower, peppermint & cayenne honey as well. For some reason it is much more appealing to me than tinctures. I used to infuse herbs in oil for my hair years ago. I had never thought of taking herbal oil internally tho'.

I guess I could buy a decent bottle of brandy & put some in the xmas cake as an excuse. Then I could try some tinctures with them. I will look out that book MT next time I go to the library.

[Serephina]

You can't make a tincture without alcohol, but there are plenty of other ways you can use herbs. Consider firstly what active constituents you are looking to extract from the herb and how you want to use the preparation.

Some herbs lend themselves to use in a powdered form mixed with liquid - think mucilaginous herbs like slippery elm powder or psyllium. Other herb powders can be made into capsules.

As MT mentioned, infusions and decoctions use water as a solvent but as there is no preservative these need to be used within 24 hours. Because you need to drink more of these than the equivalent tincture to get the same dose they're not so great for strong tasting herbs.

Glycetracts are another alternative and as the name suggests these are made with a glycerine base. Glycerine is not as effective at extracting the active constituents as alcohol and requires a higher concentration for preservative action.

Oxymels are made with vinegar and honey. I think I would rather stick to using vinegar on my salad though :giggle:

Barefoot mentioned oil infusions, though these are generally for external use.

Other options are sugar syrups, pastilles and lozenges. Plus there are many, many more ways of using herbs which I haven't mentioned. I highly recommend the book Herbal Manufacturing by Jenny Adams & Eleanor Tan if anyone is interested in this area.

Wonder-Full I love the idea of infusing in honey. Lemon thyme would be delicious and lovely for sore throats.

I do use alcohol at home as I feel it's advantages far outweigh the disadvantage of consuming a tiny amount of alcohol occasionally.

[Mr. Beyondtheory]

The main advantage of alcohol is the preservative effect. Not sure if it extracts more constituent properties of the herbs, as compared to vinegar. But I do know vinegar is the preservative of 2nd choice, and can basically do a very good job.

I've read that sometimes a herb is better and more effective infused in a tea. ie. Yarrow. Certain compound will get lost in an alcoholic tinture...if I am remembering rightly. You have to simmer gently too, not boil the water with yarrow.

The Chinese are into the idea of boiling herbs to extract properties. They often serve medicinal herbs in soups. I quite like that idea.

I think drying is a good method. Ayurveda uses that method quite a bit.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

the problem with chinese medicine is that the results taste like a toxic dump.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

I highly recommend the book Herbal Manufacturing by Jenny Adams & Eleanor Tan if anyone is interested in this area.
:giggle: first find it.

[Serephina]

So true :giggle: Ayurvedic preparations aren't much better.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

It's okay... I've found one :D

[ZGT Mummy]

the problem with chinese medicine is that the results taste like a toxic dump

Not to mention the stench infused into your clothes if you've left your bedroom door open whilst your mother is boiling something up on the stove!

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Yeah, that too. The ultimate in grossness, and a test of one's intestinal fortitude.

[ZGT Mummy]

My cousin came over last night to pick up some tonics I got for her from my naturopath and she mentioned that her DD had been sick again and they'd been to the chinese doctor twice. The first thing he gave them did nothing, the second thing he gave them was silt bugs (???). Her English isn't fantastic but that's what she called them. Bugs of some sort anyway. Apparently it worked fabulously.

I was under the impression TCM used herbs/plants in the same way that herbal medicine does in Western culture, so the thought of boiling up bugs and drinking that....well doesn't bear thought. I'd still be sick if I had to rely on that to help me!

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

No, chinese medicine used lots of stuff I disagree with like, tiger gonads, sea horses, bear bile etc...- a whole range of animal disgustingness (to me).... check it out. Some of the species on the endangered list are there courtesy of chinese medicine. But I guess if you had your back to the wall and nothing else had worked, you might try silt bugs. they aren't endangered... ..