If you are taking or plan to take a herbal remedy in a tincture form for health reasons, you should consider making your own. The equipment is not complicated and the process is simple to complete. The dried herbs are inexpensive and readily available from many suppliers. There are many advantages if you craft you own tinctures, such as (1) having control over the process you can be assured that the extraction process is done properly, (2) preserving the active components in dried herbs which can be lost during dried herb storage and (3) saving money. In addition, some believe that it benefits you to know how to make herbal tinctures on your own, if only for the reason that you have the faith in your own product.http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/extract/extract.php <ref>http://www.kcweb.com/herb/tincture.htm

There are various ways to make herbal tinctures, but most use an alcohol concentration greater than 45% and have a herb volume equal to 20-25%. The alcohol serves to extract alcohol-soluble active ingredients and preserve the extract. The water content extracts beneficial saponins and glycosides. Extracts of fresh material typically use a ratio of 1:1 material:alcohol, while extracts of dried herb can be as low as 1:5. http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/extract/single.html Alcohols (drinking alcohol only) that you can use should be 100 proof or more, that is having 50% ethanol, such as vodka. Stronger alcohols can be diluted with purified water to achieve the 50% ethanol benchmark for making tinctures. In the example given in this how-to, the dried herb damiana is used as an example to make a 1:5 tincture. This herb, much like ginseng, has been used for its properties to strengthen the nerves for improve resistance to stress and as an aphrodisiac. Fundukian, J. L, ed. 2009. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, 3rd Ed. Cengage Learning. p. 653. The process of making the tincture can be quickly done, but it does have an extraction period of 4 weeks after the herb and alcohol are initially combined.

Equipment

1. Coffee grinder or mortar and pestle (if the herb is not in powder form)
2. Pint mason jar, with lid and sealing ring
3. Measuring cup
4. Strainer
5. Small funnel for filling dropper bottles
6. Cheesecloth
7. Liter bottle of 100 proof ethanol
8. Dried damiana leaves, enough to make a volume of 4 ounces or 200 ml
9. Dropper bottles, 2 oz.

1. If the herb is not already in the powdered form, grind it in a coffee grinder or mortal and pestle so that it approaches a powdered form. This will help in the extraction of all of the active principles from the plant tissue.
2. Measure the 100 ml of herb and then place in the pint canning jar.
3. If you have a concentrated ethanol, dilute it to the 50% alcohol level.
4. Add alcohol to the canning jar up to the point were it is about 3/4 inch below the top of the jar. The spacing allows for expansion of the herb due to water absorption and it helps in shaking it later during the extraction process.
5. Stir to thoroughly mix the alcohol with the herb.
6. If the level drops upon stirring, add a bit more alcohol.
7. Place the lid on the jar and tighten it down with the ring.
8. Place the jar on a shelf in a dark place for storage for 4 weeks.
9. Shake the jar at least once a week to redistribute the ingredients and help extract the active constituents into the liquid.

At the end of the 4-week extraction period you will need to filter and bottle the herb. Here are the steps:

1. Set up a strainer over a bowl.
2. Place cheesecloth having at least 4 layers into the bottom of the strainer. There should be enough cheesecloth so that it can contain all of the plant material in the extract jar.
3. Shake the jar which has the herbal extract, open it and pour it onto the cheesecloth.
4. Pick up the ends of the cheesecloth, twist it into a bag and squeeze out all of the alcohol out of the herb. (You can compost the herb that is left.)
5. Fill the dropper bottles with the filtered extract, using a funnel to prevent spilling of the extract. Store on a shelf in a dark area.
   
   

Recommended amounts for usage of a 1:5 tincture of damiana is 5 ml (about 1 teaspoon) taken up to 3 times a day. It confers its effect over a 2-3 week period of use, so its effect is gradual for improvement of health and vigor. http://www.planetbotanic.ca/fact_sheets/damiana_fs.htm

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.