A tincture is nothing more than a highly concentrated liquid extract of herbs. A tincture can be applied externally or taken internally. The kind of herbs you choose to put in your tinctures depends upon what conditions you need to heal. For example, you would make a tincture of comfrey root to heal and clean sores, because comfrey has pain-killing properties and it also aids in cell rejuvenation. If you are choosing herbs to use in a tincture that will be taken orally, be careful to choose “safe” herbs, ones that you know you can safely ingest.

Here’s how to make your own tincture: Add 4 ounces of the herb of your choice to 1 pint of alcohol. You can use vodka, rum, gin, or glycerin. The alcohol extracts the medicinal alkaloids and the volatile oils from the herbs. Allow the mixture to sit for about 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain, pouring the liquid into a dark glass container which has been clearly labeled.

Tinctures can be used for many different illnesses. A tincture made from calendula flowers can be applied externally to cuts and scrapes, as well as taken orally for cramps and skin eruptions. When taken orally, dosage would be 5-15 drops for children and 10-25 drops for adults.

Sedative Tincture: Place 1-1/2 ounces of chamomile and 11 /2 teaspoons of powdered peppermint into 1/2 quart of vodka. Allow to steep for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and bottle. Use as

a sedative for adults. Dosage is 1/2 dropperful under the tongue, as needed.

Herbal BeautyValerian Root Tincture: Although this tincture is a great sedative, I also use it to clean sores, cold sores, poison ivy rash, and a host of other skin ailments. It is wonderful for certain tension headaches and for sinus headaches. It is truly a great relaxant. Since it is a great muscle relaxant, it would be helpful to take orally for sore muscles or when suffering from back injury. Dosage for adults would be 1/2 dropperful every 4 hours or so for muscle spasms due to back pain. The smell is awful, so I place the liquid in #00 capsules and give the dosage that way. It goes down a lot easier.

Wild lettuce and skullcap would be good substitutes if valerian is not available. Both have a sedative effect. Just add 4 ounces of valerian (or the substitute herbs) to 1 pint of vodka or other alcohol and allow to sit for 2 weeks. Strain and bottle.

Rosemary Tincture: This tincture is good to take internally to prevent colds or to fight infections. Because of the antibiotic nature of this tincture, it is also good to use to clean cuts and scrapes. It removes bacteria and prevents infections.

Add 4 ounces of rosemary needles to 1 pint of vodka and allow to sit for 2 weeks. Strain and use 1/2 dropperful every 2 hours for a couple of days. Then cut back to 2 times daily for about 2 weeks to treat infections and colds.

Jude’s Tincture: I call this Jude’s tincture because I don’t know what else to call it. It works well and is very antibiotic in nature. It is great to use externally to clean cuts and scrapes. It will remove bacteria from cuts or wounds and prevent infections. I take it internally to prevent colds and to fight infections.

Add 1 ounce of macerated garlic, 1 ounce of yarrow, 1 /4 ounce of echinacea root and 1 ounce of nasturtium leaves and flowers to 1 pint of vodka. Allow to sit for 2 weeks before straining. Shake daily. Strain and bottle.

The garlic is a natural antibiotic, the yarrow has aspirin-like substances and is a natural antiseptic. The nasturtium is a natural antiseptic and would help to clear mucus from the system. The echinacea root is a blood purifier and lymphatic cleanser as well as being an excellent antibiotic. Dosage would be 1 /2 dropperful every couple of hours for 2-3 days. After a few days, take twice daily for 2 weeks to fight infections and colds.

Yarrow Tincture: This is a good tincture to keep on hand to wash out wounds and sores. Add 1 cup fresh yarrow to 2 cups of vodka. Allow to sit for 2 weeks before straining and placing in a sterile bottle. The yarrow contains silacylates to stop pain. It also has antibiotic properties and will prevent infections.

Antibiotic Tincture: Add 2 cups garlic cloves, 2 cups of nasturtium leaves and flowers, and 2 cups of rosemary needles and stems to 1 quart of vodka. Let steep 2 weeks and strain. Dosage is 1 dropperful every 2 hours for several days. This is used to fight off an infection.

Sweet Woodruff Tincture: Fill a pint jar with sweet woodruff and cover the herb with vodka. Allow to sit in the sun for 3 weeks. Strain, bottle and label. Dosage is 1 dropperful every 4 hours, as a tonic for the liver and heart. Keep this treatment up for 1 week.

Calendula Tincture: Using oils to prepare tinctures is another way to make them. Many times a single herb is all that is necessary to use in preparing a home remedy. Calendula is one that serves many purposes and is handy to keep around. This is one that you would want to have in your herbal medicine chest.

Add 1 cup of calendula flower petals to 2 cups of olive oil. Allow to stand in a warm place for 2 weeks. Strain and add several drops of tincture of benzoin. Store in a sterile bottle. Use this to treat sores and chapped skin, to clean out wounds and cuts. Calendula helps stop bleeding so it could be used as a styptic. The tincture of benzoin keeps the herbal mixture bacteria-free and enables you to keep it for long periods of time. After you have started using your own tinctures, it will surprise you how often you will turn to them when needed.

Sweet Woodruff Ointment: Fill a pint jar with dried sweet woodruff and pour olive oil over the herb to fill the jar. Place in the sun for 2 weeks and strain. Add several drops of tincture of benzoin to the mixture before placing it in a labeled bottle. This can be applied to any cut, scrape or wound. Sweet woodruff has long been used to aid in the healing of wounds. It has also been used for centuries as a perfume base. This recipe could be applied to the skin as a scent, as well as for medicinal purposes.

The scent of sweet woodruff gets stronger the longer it dries. The herb’s vanilla scent comes from an organic compound called coumarin. Coumarin is used in making perfumes and was the first natural scent to be synthesized from coal-tar products.

Tincture for Teenagers: Place 1 /2 cup chopped onion in 1 cup of olive oil and allow to steep for 2 weeks. Strain and bottle. Use on pimples to help dry them up. Allow the liquid to stay on the spots for 15 minutes before rinsing off.

Earache Tincture: Fill a small jar with mullein flowers and cover with olive oil. Allow to stand in the sun for 1 week, shaking daily. Strain and place in sterile jar. Apply 3-4 drops to affected ear as needed and cover with a warm cloth.

Clove OIL: Clove oil is great to use for toothaches. You can make your own by mixing together equal amounts of whole cloves and vegetable oil and allowing it to sit for several weeks. I use this oil as an addition to my potpourri pot when simmering scented water. Cinnamon oil can be made the same way. Simply pour the oil over cinnamon sticks and allow to sit for several weeks. Not only does this save you money, but these oils are handy to have around.

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