Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Tinctures are more concentrated than infusions, which are in turn more concentrated than tea. If
tea is consumed by the kettleful, and infusions taken by the cupful, then tinctures are taken one
dropper-full at a time.
Tinctures will store a long time, often indefinitely, because the high amount of alcohol acts as a
preservative. Just shake up the vial before administering to make sure it's mixed up.
Sometimes different herbs do well prepared different ways. Peppermint makes a nice tincture
from dry leaves, but with fresh leaves on hand, try infusions. Echinacea does well as a tincture as
well because to me the taste is not pleasant for a tea or infusion. Nettles, on the other hand, are
extremely flexible and widely used in teas, infusions, decoctions, and tinctures.
For more information on making infusions, decoctions, and tinctures, as well as the other topics in
this chapter, a good resource is
Making Herbal Medicines (A Living Free Guide)
by Susan Mead.
While we visit our medical care professional on a regular basis, and are not opposed to medical
treatment when necessary, there is a huge benefit to understanding how plants can help improve
your overall health. Better nutrition, more awareness of healthy living, and overall wellness can
certainly be enhanced by adding more whole foods to your life, and these easy herbal preparations
are just a part of that.
