A
Note to Fellow Tinkers: To
our knowledge, these recipes have not killed anyone yet.
However, if you tinker, you do so at your own risk. We
cannot be held responsible for the results of your experimentations.
Caveat tinker!
As
a continual experimenter I became interested in tinctures.
A tincture is the essence of one or more herbs distilled
in alcohol, usually 60–80 proof vodka. The tinctures
are personalized depending on the need. They are a kind
of medicine, and people interested in an alternative to
modern medicine find some remedies in tinctures.
Almost
any herb can be used for a tincture. Careful research is
essential as well as a good reason to make one. I'll go
through the basic recipe here and then give a sample one
that I made with very good results.
Basic
Tincture Recipe
4 oz. dried herbs (or 8 oz. fresh herbs, or even a mixture
of the two)
500–700mL 60–80 proof vodka
clear, hermetically sealed bottle or jar
cheesecloth and bowl
dark glass bottle
a warm place
time
Put
the herbs in the jar, add the vodka, seal. Label the jar
with the ingredients and date. Place in a warm, dark accessible
place. Shake the mixture in the jar for about a minute twice
a day for two to three weeks. The longer you keep it in
the jar, the stronger your tincture will be. Drain liquid
by straining it through the cheesecloth and into the bowl.
Pour it into the dark bottle and put it in the refrigerator.
Label this container so you don't forget what it is and
mistake it for wine. Record the start and end date and what
herbs you used. Take in small doses-either from a dropper
or a small shot glass.
Some
tinctures taste very bad. The one below is very effective,
but tastes awful. Remember: tinctures are medicines.
This
is a tincture I created to help me relax and deal with the
stress of living in a big city. I used skullcap (an herbal
relaxer and strengthener), passion flower (another relaxer),
and valerian (a very strong nervine). These three herbs
work very well together. I would not suggest combining more
than three or four different herbs per tincture. Two to
three herbs blended give synergetic effects.
2
oz. valerian
1 oz. passion flower
1 oz. skullcap
Here
are some herbs I take on a regular basis — either daily
or as needed. Most of these are easy to find in vitamin
pill form.
Ginseng:
For vitality and energy. It is best to take ginseng for
a few weeks and let it build up in your system. When you
first try ginseng you may immediately feel like you have
more energy.
Gingko
Biloba: For added memory and more brain power overall.
Take it when you study.
Echinacia:
As a general heal-all. This herb is good when combined with
other herbs to fight infections.
Goldenseal:
Good for detoxifying your body. Also tremendously helpful
for any healing that has to do with sinuses or mucus membranes.
For colds, a mixture of echinacia and goldenseal is effective.
Treat the herbs as you would an antibiotic and take steadily
for 10 days. Other tips for fighting colds: Cut out cheese
from your diet and of course add as many fresh fruits as
possible.
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