How to Make Herbal Tinctures from Dried Herbs

I have several tincture recipes posted (including my two favorites: Chamomile Tincture and Digestion Tincture) but I realized that a post with general instructions on how to make a tincture from any herbs would be helpful.

A tincture is a concentrated liquid form of an herb that is easy to make and easy to take. Tinctures preserve and concentrate the properties of the herb, making them more effective and longer lasting.

Alcohol based tinctures have a shelf life of several years and are easy to use when needed! I keep several tinctures on hand for my kids, as they can be used externally even on small children for relief from common problems.

If you’ve ever bought tinctures from the store, I’d encourage you to try making your own, as they are very inexpensive and can be made in minutes.

Tincture Making Supplies

I make most tinctures in an alcohol base as this makes them the most long lasting, but tinctures can also be made with glycerine, vinegar or even with honey to make a syrup!

To make a tincture, you will need the following supplies:

A clean glass jar (at least pint size) with lid
Consumable alcohol like vodka or rum- at least 80 proof (or apple cider vinegar or food grade vegetable glycerine)
Herbs of choice (I typically grow my own)

How to Make a Tincture

Also called an extract (in fact, the same process is used to make real vanilla extract), alcohol tinctures are the most common type and the easiest to make.

First, pick which herbs you plan to use. These are some of my favorite tinctures:

Chamomile Tincture (great for kids, promotes restful sleep and good for skin)
Digestion Tincture (helps with nausea, heartburn, etc)
Sweet Dreams Tincture (I use to help little ones who are having trouble sleeping)
Echinacea Tincture (great immune support when fighting a cold)

Fill the jar 1/3 to 1/2 full with dried herbs. Filling half full will make a stronger tincture. Do not pack down.

Pour boiling water to just dampen all of the herbs. (This step is optional but helps to draw out the beneficial properties of the herbs)

Fill the rest of the jar (or the entire jar if not using hot water too) with alcohol and stir with a clean spoon.

Put the lid on the jar. Store the jar in a cool/dry place, shaking daily, for at least three weeks and up to six months. (I usually leave herbs for six weeks)

Strain through cheesecloth and compost the herbs. Store the tincture in colored dropper bottles or clean glass jars.

NOTE: The alcohol can be evaporated before use (see below) or a tincture can be made in the same way using apple cider vinegar, though it will need to be stored in the fridge and will only last 3-6 months.

How to Use Herbal Tinctures

The standard adult dose we take is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon up to three times a day as needed. Kids usually get 1/4 to 1/3 of the adult dose.

For children, pregnant women, or those not wanting to consume alcohol, it can be poured into a hot liquid like tea to evaporate the alcohol before consuming.

Ever made your own herbal tinctures? What is your favorite? Share below!

Herbal tinctures made from dried herbs are a great way to preserve and concentrate the benefits of the herbs. They are inexpensive to make and last for years!

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a 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.

Comments

156 responses to “How to Make Herbal Tinctures”

Aurora

May 30, 2016

I realize I’m late to the conversation but I rarely ever get sick and recently felt myself coming down with something so I went the herbal tincture route and it seems to be working. I’m just wondering if anyone here can advise on whether glycerin or alcohol based tinctures are the better option when following a low-carb way of eating? I have been taking about 6 different tinctures 4-5 times a day for two weeks and I’d rather not undermine my ongoing body re-composition efforts unnecessarily. Thanks for any input on this!

Reply
Mallory

October 29, 2015

Hello,

I made some tinctures using fresh herbs and at day 3, the alcohol level went down and the leaves that were not submerged, turned black. I poured more vodka in to cover them again. This was with peppermint leaves and the stems and oregano leaves and stems. Do you know why this may have happened? Are they safe to use?

Thanks!

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Becky Dockrey

October 23, 2015

I would thing you would surely have separation…however it’s possible you could shake well before using each time….I’m just speculating….since in order to have a mixture that won’t separate you would have to have a binder.

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Norm

October 22, 2015

Hello.
I have a question regarding perishability of herbs steeped in oil. Please bear in mind, I know little about preserving vegetable material.

I have no question that herbs stored in vodka are safe and imperishable, however, it seems to me that storing fresh or dried herbs in oil alone may be questionable as to safety. However, desirable oil based elements in herbs may not go into suspension in alcohol alone, and may require oil to do so.

I wonder if this may be resolved by adding alcohol to the mix. This would probably lead to a problem of separation in the bottle.

I’d appreciate your comment on this.
Thanks.

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Courtney

September 22, 2015

I’m a little confused. How can I make a tincture safe for a child when using alcohol? And how is it effective using externally ?

Thanks

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Dawn

August 30, 2015

Hi. Do you have a tincture for circulation?

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1. Melissa
  
  September 17, 2015
  
  I found a pre-made tincture for circulation on MountainRoseHerbs.com, but you could check out the ingredients they use to make it and adapt one for yourself. They should also sell all the ingredients you would need right on their website.
  
  Reply
  1. colette
    
    September 21, 2015
    
    I was following the recipe on wellness mama. perhaps i was overthinking it. i want to make my own, and am using vegetable glycerin. are the rest of the directions followed from the other recipes, by chance?
    
    Reply
2. Lynde
  
  August 16, 2016
  
  You can try Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) for circulation. It also helps for rheumatism, leg cramps, varicose veins, etc. It grows very easily.
  
  Reply
Becky Dockrey

August 26, 2015

Katie, have you ever tried using the elderberries in making a tincture instead of making the syrup ? Was wondering if it could be done and would be as effective as the syrup ?

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Joie

August 16, 2015

Do you use any specific books as to reference these recipes? Looking for books to make my own tinctures at home.

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Micha

July 26, 2015

I would be extremely careful using this for all herbs. It can work for some that are mild without major side effects, but with things that are much more potent where the dosing has to be more precise then you have to be more careful in how you make a tincture to make sure you don’t give too much… Just a thought. Herbs are great remedies but I don’t think people realize that you can really hurt yourself or your loved ones by making these things without precise measurements. It is definitely more complicated but worth it!

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1. colette
  
  September 21, 2015
  
  for sure look up the recommended dosage on an appropriate site.
  
  Reply
kate

June 16, 2015

You say to add boiled water before the alcohol because it draws out the beneficial uses. However, I’ve read elsewhere that the heat can often denature the structures of the proteins, which may prove less beneficial. Thoughts?

Thank you!

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helene

June 11, 2015

i put the drops of tincture into a measuring tablespoon then fill it with hot water, carefully, and watch the alcohol bubble off it. it will stop in just moments, then drink it down.
easy peasy. feels good on my throat when sore and no cooking the tincture. just evapping the alcohol.

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Catherine

June 11, 2015

Hi, thanks for this, I made it as an alcoholic tincture about 8 was ago, just want to clarify about now evaporating the alcohol. So I add a small amt to some boiling water, so does this mean the spray then becomes a drink?

Catherine

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1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  June 11, 2015
  
  You can add the tincture you want to consume (10-15 drops or whatever amount) to an ounce or so of warm or boiling water to evaporate the alcohol… it would not have to be a lot of hot water or enough to make a drink but you can also add to hot tea.
  
  Reply
Allison

June 9, 2015

I really appreciate all the information you share and often use your site!! I just made an elderflower tincture this afternoon- pressed down the flowers and covered with vodka. I happened to notice that some of the flowers had popped above the liquid and turned quite brown! I pushed them down and added more alcohol, but am wondering if I should be concerned about the few brown flowers now in the jar? It was literally no more than 4 hours since making it that I noticed them and added more alcohol.
Thanks for any feedback/suggestions!!

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1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  June 10, 2015
  
  It should be fine. The alcohol will quickly pull the color out of flowers, and adding additional alcohol should make sure no bacteria is present.
  
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Hélène

May 21, 2015

How to convert dry–pill/tablet dosages, say 250mg, to tincture dosages? I know most tinctures are 1-2 dropperfuls a day or twice a day, but trying to go from 1 250mg pill or tablet to liquid I can’t figure it out.

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Phil Kieffer

May 1, 2015

To finish a tincture for those who can’t have an alcohol base, after you filter pour into a pan and light the fumes at boiling. This will burn off the alcohol and you can add honey or glycerine as a sweetener. CAUTION: The use of high grade spirits or vodka burns a hot blue flame. During daylight its very hard to see. I do mine outside on a propane camp stove in the evening so to see the flame better. No flame and the tincture is ready. This is when I add honey to taste so it mixes well. Enjoy

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1. Melissa
  
  November 19, 2015
  
  Thanks for this info Phil…I know this is an old post, but if you get this, can you tell me, how long does your tincture last in this form – with the alcohol boiled off? Thanks.
  
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Kim

April 20, 2015

I am just curious, you state to use dried herbs to make the tincture with but what if I use fresh herbs? Is that not recommended? I have a bunch of fresh Beauty Berry leaves that I want to make a tincture with and I didn’t want to have to dry them only to try to reconstitute them with the boiling water. I was planting on chopping them very fine as well.

Your thoughts?

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1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  April 20, 2015
  
  You can, but it is just important to use a very high proof alcohol, no water, and make sure it is completely covered.
  
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Joi

March 14, 2015

Do you know of tinctures that aid in liver detox… obviously made with glycerin or ACV, not alcohol.

Thanks for all you do. I am sort of the de facto herbologist of my company, family, et al. So I am always looking for new/useful information. You’re information fits the bill!

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1. Danielle
  
  March 17, 2015
  
  Milk thistle
  
  Reply
Joi

March 14, 2015

I can see using a tincture for acute symptoms. Is it better, or even an option, to use the herbs in various tea(s), as a maintenance form, to maintain wellness, antioxidant effects, etc.?

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Jill

March 11, 2015

Hi I am wondering how to know if a chamomile glycerine tincture went bad… It burned my throat…

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hannah

March 4, 2015

i’m still a bit confused on the evaporation process..
ACV tastes awful, so alcohol is likely to be what i use. but without making a tea to “evaporate” the alcohol in the tincture, can i rid the taste of the alcohol in the tincture without mixing it with something else?
i’d like to use it solely as a tincture, so i’m hoping there’s a way to use just that form.. start to finish.

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1. Jill
  
  March 11, 2015
  
  You can just drop the alcohol tincture straight into your throat you don’t have to evaporate it first
  
  Reply