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digestion tincture
  • Natural Remedies

How to Make a Digestion Tincture For the Whole Family

Katie WellsApr 13, 2023
Reading Time: 5 min

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Remedies » Herbal Digestion Tincture Remedy
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Digestive Bitters For Gut Health+−
    • Aromatic Herbal Blends
  • Herbal Tincture Ingredients+−
    • Peppermint
    • Ginger
    • Fennel
  • How to Use the Digestion Tincture+−
    • Pregnancy and Nursing
    • Babies and Children
    • How Much Do I Take?
    • Digestion Tincture Alcohol Strength
  • Digestion Tincture

This digestion tincture is by far the most used tincture in my home remedy cabinet. It’s simple to make, but effective against lots of digestive issues. If you’re dealing with bloating, IBS, or just need digestive support, then read on.

Digestive Bitters For Gut Health

In modern diets, sugar or salty tastes are often the stars of the show. We don’t naturally rely on a lot of bitter tastes to flavor our food anymore. If you’ve ever had dandelion leaves or frisee lettuce though, then you’ll know what they taste like. Other common digestive bitters include rosemary, orange peel, and coffee. Bitters aid digestive health in several different ways.

These herbs increase our digestive secretions throughout the digestive tract. It all starts with the tongue. As soon as we taste bitter herbs it gets our saliva going and aids digestion the rest of the way down. They also trigger bile flow from the gallbladder to help the healthy digestion of fats.

Aromatic Herbal Blends

Another class of digestion supporting herbal teas and remedies is aromatics. These are more pungent smelling and have strong volatile oils, like mint, fennel, and black pepper. Like bitters they help with digestion, but in a different way. Their volatile oils signal our smooth muscles to relax and tell our nervous system it’s time to settle down and digest.

Herbal Tincture Ingredients

For this digestive tincture blend I use a mix of peppermint, ginger, and fennel.

Peppermint

Peppermint is delicious in mint chocolate chip ice cream, but it’s also great for soothing the digestive system. People with acid reflux may need to exercise caution though. Mint in medicinal amounts can soften the sphincter in the esophagus and trigger heartburn in those already prone to it. If you find that you get heartburn or reflux from using this tincture, then try it without the mint.

Mint helps with an upset stomach and nausea. This makes it great for pregnancy nausea and motion sickness too! Mint also has anti-viral activity and can help with the flu. It both relaxes and stimulates the nervous system to do its job.

Ginger

Ginger is the next herb in the digestion tincture. It stimulates circulation and is great for cold and flu support. Ginger also helps with nausea, motion sickness, and morning sickness. Fresh ginger is easier on sensitive stomachs than dried ginger. There’s some evidence it has anti-inflammatory properties, especially when it comes to arthritis. However, the jury is still out on that one.

Researchers found that ginger performed better than the placebo when it comes to nausea. It helped with nausea and vomiting after surgery, seasickness, and morning sickness. It can also reduce nausea caused by chemotherapy treatment.

Fennel

Fennel, also known as Foeniculum vulgare is another amazing digestive herb. It’s gentle and soothing for all ages, including little ones. You’ll often find it in gripe water preparations. Fennel helps with spasms, and calms colic, and constipation. It’s also a carminative and helps release trapped gas in the intestines. It should be used with caution during early pregnancy though.

How to Use the Digestion Tincture

I’ve used this digestion tincture in transition during labor when nausea hits. It’s also helpful to curb morning sickness and for stomach bugs to help stop vomiting. I also use it for indigestion, heartburn, and other digestive disturbances. If you find that it worsens your heartburn though, then omit the mint and replace it with more of the other herbs. If you’re having a digestive issue of any kind, this will likely work for it.

Getting to the root cause of the problem is always the best idea though. For example, if you have gut dysfunction and a leaky gut, diet changes can help to heal the gut lining. If your baby is always colicky there could be an oral tie or nervous system disruption causing the tummy troubles. In that case, getting evaluated for tongue or lip ties or a chiropractor adjustment can be helpful.

Pregnancy and Nursing

Fennel tea is generally considered gentle and safe for pregnancy, but the tincture is not. It can have estrogenic effects when used in large amounts. Using fennel while breastfeeding can increase milk production and soothe digestive issues for nursing babies.

Mint is commonly used to help with pregnancy nausea. In later stages of pregnancy, it could potentially worsen existing heartburn. Peppermint in larger amounts may reduce breastmilk flow in nursing mothers.

If you’re pregnant then replace the fennel with chamomile. It’s pregnancy safe and has many of the same digestive actions. Be sure to check with your doctor or midwife first before taking any herbal supplements.

Nursing moms may want to omit the peppermint in this digestion tincture. You can replace it with more ginger and fennel instead.

Babies and Children

I always keep this remedy (and homemade chamomile tincture) on hand, especially with kids. This digestive remedy can be used externally on baby’s tummies for colic and gas. You can also rub some on the head (adult or child) for headaches. And of course, it’s what I pull out for my kids when we’re away from home and they’ve indulged in too much unhealthy food.

How Much Do I Take?

Adults can take up to 1 teaspoon in water or tea. For heartburn, indigestion, or nausea, one dose is usually sufficient. You might find you need a second round though. During pregnancy, I used 1/2 teaspoon in the morning for morning sickness. Then I took a few more doses throughout the day as needed.

Children don’t need as much, about 10-20 drops. For babies, you can rub a few drops on their tummies.

If you’re pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition, check with your doctor or midwife before using any herbal remedy or supplement.

Digestion Tincture Alcohol Strength

Most homemade tinctures are made with 80-proof alcohol (40%). The herbs used in this extract best with a 50-60% alcohol strength though. That’s a little higher than what you can get with your typical vodka. A simple fix is to use 95-proof alcohol and dilute it with distilled water to get to 60%.

That translates to about 2 parts alcohol to 1 part water. This tincture calls for 3 cups total liquid, but if you need more to cover your herbs, use the 2 to 1 ratio. If you’re using fresh mint and ginger, then use 95-proof alcohol with no water added.

digestion tincture

Digestion Tincture

Katie Wells
This easy digestion remedy helps a wide range of issues from nausea, to constipation, and colic.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes mins
Maceration Time 14 days d
Total Time 14 days d 3 minutes mins
Servings 20 ounces

Equipment

  • Quart-size mason jar
  • Dropper bottles

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup dried peppermint leaf
  • ¼ cup dried ginger root pieces (or 1/2 cup fresh, finely chopped)
  • ¼ cup dried fennel (or chamomile)
  • 2 cups 95-proof alcohol (like Everclear)
  • 1 cup distilled water

Instructions
 

  • Crush the fennel. Put peppermint, ginger, and fennel (or chamomile) in the glass jar.
  • Fill the rest of the jar with alcohol and water. If you don't have enough liquid to cover your herbs fully, add a little more alcohol and water in a 2:1 ratio until you do.
  • Cap the jar and keep in a cool dark place for at least two weeks, but up to six. Shake occasionally.
  • After 2-6 weeks, strain the herbs out with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Compost the herbs.
  • Store your tincture in glass dropper bottles in a cool, dark place.

Notes

Start small with the dose and increase as needed.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

What have you tried to help with digestive issues? Any herbs you would add to this? Leave a comment and let me know!

This homemade herbal digestion remedy is an all purpose tincture that eases nausea, heartburn, morning sickness, indigestion and other troubles.
Sources
  1. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
  2. Ernst. E and Pittler, MH. (2000). Efficacy of ginger for nausea and vomiting: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Br J Anaesth. 84(3):367-71.
  3. Ozgoli, G., Goli, M., Simbar M. (2009). Effects of ginger capsules on pregnancy, nausea, and vomiting. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 15(3):243-246.
  4. Gupta, E. (N.D.) GERD Diet: Foods That Help with Acid Reflux (Heartburn). Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Category: Natural Remedies

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (93 Comments)

  1. Mary Car

    November 7, 2012 at 11:12 AM

    Can I replace the vodka with “The Mother”?

    Reply
  2. Casper

    August 16, 2012 at 8:34 AM

    Would this help with IBS symptoms/discomfort?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      August 16, 2012 at 9:44 AM

      It should offer some relief from the symptoms, though it won’t fix whatever underlying problem is causing the IBS.

      Reply
  3. Steph

    July 5, 2012 at 6:39 PM

    Can I use the dried leaves from my tea bags to make a tincture?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      July 5, 2012 at 8:29 PM

      As long as they have never been brewed and are dry you can.

      Reply
  4. Kelly

    June 22, 2012 at 8:03 AM

    You don’t happen to sell this by chance? I would love to buy!! I’m pregnant with constipation issues now… 🙁

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      June 22, 2012 at 9:37 AM

      Unfortunately no but you could also try some magnesium, probiotics or fermented foods. Good luck!

      Reply
      • Joy

        March 22, 2015 at 10:16 AM

        I eat greek yogurt with cinnamon and about 3 tsp of whole flax seed!!!

        Reply
  5. Dinika

    May 18, 2012 at 9:33 PM

    What do you think about essential oils and companies like young living?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      May 18, 2012 at 9:50 PM

      I use a lot of essential oils and think they are excellent when used safely. I’m personally not a fan of Young Living, and I just order all of mine from other reputable sources which are cheaper and also organic and food grade.

      Reply
      • Ash

        December 18, 2020 at 9:30 PM

        I’m curious why you dislike Young Living? I’m looking into it myself right now. Thanks.

        Reply
        • Katie Wells

          December 19, 2020 at 1:15 PM

          I’m not a fan of any multi-level marketing companies. Their products are overpriced, they make up terms such as “therapeutic grade”, and you can find better quality products elsewhere…

          Reply
  6. Mary

    May 8, 2012 at 9:36 PM

    Why do you pour boiling water over the herbs? I’ve made tinctures before, but I just poured the vodka over them? Does there need to be water for using dried herbs in tincturing them?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      May 8, 2012 at 9:42 PM

      No, don’t necessarily need water but it still works with half water and you don’t need as much vodka that way. The boiling water just helps extract the properties from the herbs

      Reply
      • Andrew

        April 5, 2016 at 4:19 PM

        Vodka is 80 proof or 40 % alcohol 60 % water. If you add more water your cutting the effectiveness of the vodka to extract the essence from the herb.

        Reply
        • Clark

          May 3, 2016 at 8:34 AM

          It’s only important to use vodka for its preservative effect, not because it actually extracts “better” than water.

          Reply
  7. ashkia

    April 25, 2012 at 8:01 PM

    can you use ground ginger instead of the ginger root?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      April 25, 2012 at 8:51 PM

      yep, just make sure to strain well, I’d use a fine strainer or a coffee filter to strain if you use ground ginger.

      Reply
  8. carrie

    December 22, 2011 at 1:50 AM

    I’m new to herbal remedies. This is the first one thst i’m trying. It’s in the “cool/dark” phase right now.

    This is my question
    Is the vodka still a large part of the mixture when it’s over?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      December 22, 2011 at 10:38 AM

      Nope, and if you’d prefer not to drink the alcohol at all, just put the tincture in a small glass of water and wait 15 minutes before drinking it… this gives the alcohol time to evaporate so you won’t taste it or get any at all.

      Reply
  9. Lyn Murphy

    October 27, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    H’mm, interesting. I must try this one.

    Reply
  10. Lynda

    May 29, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    Where do you purchase your tincture bottles?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      May 29, 2011 at 6:49 PM

      I just re-use ones that I have, but I’ve seen them online at
      different places. A lot of health food type stores also carry them.

      Reply
    • Boni

      August 4, 2011 at 2:51 PM

      Try a health/vitamin store.  I got mine at the Vitamin Shoppe

      Reply
    • Joseph

      August 5, 2016 at 5:44 PM

      try this website https://www.containerandpackaging.com/catalog/glass-bottles/13/?c=Amber#8694

      Reply
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