How to Make Herbal Tinctures

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How to Make Herbal Tinctures
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Remedies » How to Make Herbal Tinctures

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:

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!

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Katie Wells Avatar

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

159 responses to “How to Make Herbal Tinctures”

  1. Vivian Avatar

    HI! Would like to make tincture using ACV. It says it needs to be stored in the fridge. Does this include during the making/brewing process or after I strain and put into bottle?

  2. Chris Avatar

    Hi Katie thank you for the great post. If I am making a smaller tincture (dropper bottle 30ml) which combines parts of the larger tinctures, what would the ratios/ingredients be? I’ve read distilled water is added with the alcohol tincture(s) but wasn’t sure how much.

  3. Tian Avatar

    Hey,
    I just received a “Red Lavender Tincture” from a co-worker who thought she was buying red lavender oil.
    Do you have any uses for this?

  4. Kirsten Avatar

    Does the quality and price of the vodka or? make a difference? I bought some Svedka but it is expensive. The salesman thought the taste of the less expensive brand would alter the taste Quality of tincture?

  5. Molly Avatar

    Hi Katie,

    I was wondering if tinctures with alcohol and/or honey are ok for someone to use if they are trying to combat hormonal acne? I’ve recently gone off the pill and have eliminated all dairy, sugar, gluten, soy, and alcohol. I wanted to make a tincture for liver detox, but was’t sure if the alcohol would affect my gut? Thank you for your help!!

  6. Sonia Avatar

    Is it possible to use brandy as the alcohol for tinctures? I’d like to make elderberry tincture and brandy is so lovely and warming. And my kids are used to Rescue Remedy so will happily take it. Advice welcome mama. thank you.

  7. Ashley M. Avatar

    It says see below for information on releasing the alcohol. I don’t see that. Please send me directions! Thank you!

  8. christie Avatar
    christie

    Can I use this with Elderberries to make a tincture? should those be crushed first? Thank you

  9. catherine Avatar
    catherine

    Hi

    sorry just a quick question which alcohol do you use, which one is the best

  10. Samuel Redden Avatar
    Samuel Redden

    I have decided to put up Wild Weed to help me with my severe pain during the winter months. I am using apple cider vinegar instead of alcohol. I use the cider ever morning for weight so wanted to combine the two for use. It seems to work for the time being. I will blend it and heat it and add more vinegar later.

    Any comments on this would be appricated

  11. Henry Garibay Avatar
    Henry Garibay

    Love the info and was so surprised to know I have many of these herbs in my garden and lovethem and now learning about the different benefits

  12. Hannah Avatar
    Hannah

    Hey! Great article! Thought you might want to have this information and make edits. This can be so confusing without clarification:
    “All tinctures are extracts, but not all extracts are tinctures! Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts that have alcohol as the solvent. If you are using water, vinegar, glycerine, or any menstruum (solvent) other than alcohol, your preparation is an extract – not a tincture.” From the mountain rose blog

  13. Diane Young Avatar
    Diane Young

    thank you for the wonderfully explained and detailed tincture recipe. I can’t wait to get started.

  14. Laura Avatar

    We have some tinctures we made for medicinal purposes, some of which are mint tinctures. I recently learned I can no longer consume mint so my question to you is can we use our mint tinctures for cleaning purposes? If so, do we water them down or spray them as is onto countertops Etc?

  15. linda Avatar

    just sub the same amount of alcohol for ACV? I’m def not comfortable using alcohol.

  16. James Avatar

    How do you make a syrup with honey and does it work as good as vodka or rum?

  17. Chantel Avatar

    I have a question, I finally decided to make a tincture at the beginning of Summer. High proof vodka in a dark, dry, cool place AKA: my cabinet.
    I strained/jarred it tonight and it is incredibly thick! Very viscous like that of thick snot. Almost slimy? Again like snot. Is that supposed to be the way it is? Is there anyway I can thin it out a bit? It looks ok, I think? No mold or anything.
    I made sure to keep the herbs covered the entire time and to shake it up every once in awhile. What happened?

  18. Deborah Avatar

    Is it ok to give tinctures to dogs? Like in their food or does the alcohol cause them problems?

  19. Olivia Avatar

    Hi there! This is probably a silly question but, my midwife made a placenta tincture for me after I had my son and she made it with brandy and we really like the flavor. Would I be able to use brandy instead of vodka when I make an herbal tincture?

  20. Keane Agyakwag Avatar
    Keane Agyakwag

    I have had interest in tincture for well over one and half years now. I got my tutorials from Marian Treben’s God’s Pharmacy. She recommends 40 proof or even 38. I gather from your notes that my tincture may not be as potent as it should be. Your reaction to this please.

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