Hippocrates, the father of scientific medicine, said, “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.”
Through the millennia, humans have used herbs as food, in ceremonies, and as medicines. People once regularly collected herbs from their surroundings to prepare infusions, decoctions, poultices, salves and tinctures that were subsequently utilized in daily life.
In an era when physicians rely on potent pharmaceuticals to treat illness and when most people can’t identify beneficial herbs, it is still possible for individuals with minimal botanical knowledge to prepare and use herbal tinctures.
Lest anyone think they should rush out into the wilds and begin gathering plants for their herbal pharmacopeia, it must be remembered that approximately 1% of all plants are highly poisonous, and some that are potentially deadly look very much like their non-toxic relatives. Herbs used in tinctures should be those that are CLEARLY recognizable or those that have been collected by experts; the latter can be found at herbal and health food stores.
While not intended to supplant the ministrations of a health care professional, a properly prepared tincture can sometimes help someone deal with a problem until he can get to his physician. Once in a while, the herbal preparation can see one through a situation without the intervention of a health care provider.
Preparing a Tincture
Ingredients
- Pint jar with lid
- 4 ounces of chopped fresh herb, or 1 ounce of powdered dry herb
- 1 pint solvent (vodka, rum, gin, or glycerin)
Method
- Place herbs in jar, cover with solvent, and cover tightly
- Place in a dark, cool place
- Shake twice daily for two weeks
- Strain through cheesecloth or filter, pressing excess liquid from herbal residue
- Place liquid in a dark glass container and label clearly
- Compost or discard herbal residue
Using a Tincture
The “dosage” of tincture used will depend on the condition and may vary from a few drops to a few tablespoons. The amount of alcohol in a few drops of tincture rarely presents a problem—even for children—but for those wishing to remove the alcohol (advisable before applying to broken skin) simply add the desired amount of tincture to 1/4-1/2 cup of boiling water; let stand for 5-10 minutes.
Which Tinctures Should I Have on Hand?
It isn’t necessary to have a multitude of tinctures sitting on a shelf; a few frequently-used preparations are sufficient. Consider the following as the basis for a first-aid kit (substitute or add preparations according to needs):
- Ginger root: Take orally for stomach upset, gas, motion sickness, morning sickness, or respiratory congestion. Use in bathwater for hives or other rashes.
- Peppermint leaf: Use orally for heartburn, indigestion, morning sickness or stress. A good breath freshener or tea (when added to hot water).
- White willow bark: Take for fever, headache, menstrual cramps, muscle pain, or inflammation (aspirin was originally derived from this herb).
- Valerian root: Useful as a mild sedative or sleep aid.
- Rose hips (fruit) or papaya leaf: Use externally for bites and stings.
Excellent resources for tincture recipes and uses:
- Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D, The Way of Herbs, 1998, Pocket Books
- Jude Williams, M.H., Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies, 2001, Llewellyn Publications
- Maureen Kernion, Ph.D., Going Natural with Herbs, 1998, Woodland Publishing
A more extensive treatise on the use of herbal tinctures (and other preparations):
- Michael Tierra, L.Ac., N.D., A.H.G., Treating Cancer with Herbs, An Integrative Approach, 2003, Lotus Press
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