Let’s make a tincture! 🙂 You know you want to. It’s an easy project with some of the most amazing benefits: Health. That is an amazing benefit!
Well, I think so. 🙂
It doesn’t need to be this grand experiment with a giant jar, a big ole bottle of booze and buckets of herbs. It can be a small jelly jar, a handful of herbs/plant-life and a cup (or less) of vodka (you can also use: Everclear, my fave; or Gin is also a good one). I, personally, like to make small batch herb tinctures. Yes, the tincture can last a few years – which can justify that big jar when it’s all said and done. But I find that the common herbs are fine done in small batches; and can just make a ‘fresh’ batch, easily, every year (or two). Depending on how frequently it does actually get used.
Because these more common herbs get utilized through cooking/diet, etc. on the daily – they aren’t necessarily a heavily used tincture(s) for me. And it’s one of the reasons I make a small batch… I don’t feel that I need a giant jar of tincture. 🙂 But… I still love having these available for boosting things like: a cuppa tea, a cuppa coffee, fire cider, even a smoothie.
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Tinctures made from basic/common powerhouse herbs are nice to have on hand. They can be added to several things. If you don’t necessarily want to be putting a fresh sprig of thyme in your tea, for example, but would love it’s medicinal properties… a tincture is a great thing. They don’t really vary the flavor profile that much (at least, I don’t notice it – unless it is a really strong extract or too much got put in!)
So… Speaking of Thyme – the basic tincture I made is: fresh thyme (this is from my garden) stuffed into a small glass jar, then topped with Gin.
What is thyme great for?
Such an under-utilized plant for healing in these modern times. It has been used since ancient times (like a lot of herbs were!) for the healing properties it offers for: cough, sore throat, bronchitis/pneumonia; it’s all-encompassing lung-healing and boosting abilities. It’s also antibacterial and even a great wound healer. This is actually one of the herbs that I love diffusing, in its essential oil form, during the winter months – or – during any heavy wildfire season we may be having. Currently I purchase the essential oil form of plants – but my future-Self will be distilling and making her own! 🙂
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Oregano: fresh oregano (also from my garden), stuffed into a small glass jar and topped with vodka.
Oregano, what an awesome plant! It is also passed-over for it’s amazing health and healing. Say oregano and it’s instantly connected to an Italian dish or cooking… most likely. Probably an under utilized herb that is medicinal in it’s own right. It is gaining in popularity, though, as more are gravitating towards it during the cold n’ flu season.
It’s also one of the many herbs that have been getting studied and researched like crazy! With hundreds of studies – it has been proven that oregano/oregano oil is Anti-Viral, Anti-Fungal, Anti-Bacterial, reduces Inflammation, has Anti-Parasitic properties, and it is also a potent Antioxidant. With oregano being high in carvacrol and thymol – these are two antioxidants that can help prevent damage to cells caused by free radicals.
These sit on a shelf at my house, but somewhere dark/shaded (like a cupboard) is a good choice. Just not in the direct sunlight; making sure they get a shake at least every day or every other day (if I forget a day – it’s not a big deal). Four weeks later – I strain them and put the liquid/extract into a jar, preferably dark glass and hopefully with a dropper. Label it and stash it in the cupboard (I have a cupboard that is my apothecary)! Boom! Herbal extract made and now ready to assist whenever it’s wanted!
This is a simple way to get your hands on some tincture(s)! And getting your own apothecary cabinet going. Starting with any of the basics, like these two (above) or try rosemary, or mint… once you start – it might be hard to stop (and why would you want to)! 🙂
This green beauty is the oregano tincture, strained, then put back in the same jar it was tinctured in. Some times I need to store the tincture in the same jar until I can either locate a different bottle or dropper bottle.
**Always remember to label/date your tinctures. Many of them start looking alike! 🙂 Knowing your oregano from your thyme and/or mint could be a challenge a year or two down the line… So, thank heavens you clearly labeled them all!
🙂
Kerri: Holistic 