There are tons of ways to use herbal tinctures. From adding them to homemade salad dressings to mixing them with oils and lotions, there are endless ways to access the nutrients in herbal tinctures easily.
Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts made from soaking herbs, flowers, or other plant matter in alcohol. They make it super simple and quick to access the range of medicinal benefits in plants and they can be consumed internally or applied externally on the body.
Benefits of Using Tinctures
Potency – Tinctures are highly concentrated which makes them more potent than other forms of herbal preparations.
Ease of use – They are easy to carry and use, especially when you store them in a dropper bottle.
Shelf-life – Tinctures have a long shelf life and usually last several years if stored properly.
Versatility – They can be used both internally and externally and you can tailor how you use a tincture to your needs.
How to Use Tinctures (Internally)
Directly
The most common way to use tinctures is to take them internally by adding the tincture under your tongue (aka sublingual consumption). Taking tinctures this way allows for quick absorption into your body. But there are lots of other consumption methods as well.
I like to do this with tinctures that help me get back to sleep in the middle of the night. Some ideas for tinctures that are great for sleep are:
St. John’s Wort tincture (also helps to improve your mood)
Wild lettuce tincture (also good for pain)
Lemon balm tincture (also good for stress and anxiety)
Diluted in water, tea, or coffee
You can also use tinctures by diluting them in tea or coffee. I like to do this to boost the nutritional benefits of the tea or coffee I’m drinking. For example:
Turmeric tea – I like to add a dose of black pepper tincture to turmeric tea to help make the curcumin in turmeric more accessible to my body.
Chamomile tea – I like to add chamomile tincture to a cup of chamomile tea for an extra dose of the plant’s goodness.
Lion’s Mane – I like to add lion’s mane tincture to my coffee in the mornings!
Chaga tea: I like to add a dosage of chaga tincture to this!
Garlic tea – I like to add a dose of garlic tincture when I make garlic tea to add more nutrients.
In a spoonful of honey
You can also add the tincture dose to a spoonful of honey for added nutritional value. I like to do this with tinctures that help prevent colds and flus, like elderberry tincture, echinacea tincture, and elderflower tincture.
In other DIY herbal medicine
You can also use tinctures by adding them to other herbal remedies that you’ve made. I like to do with:
Fire cider – To each dose of fire cider that I take, I like to add a dosage of oregano tincture, black pepper tincture, and turmeric tincture.
Elderberry syrup – To each dose of elderberry syrup I like to add a dosage of elderberry tincture.
Thyme syrup – I like to add thyme tincture to thyme syrup when I add it to a cup of tea. It’s great for helping to loosen up chesty coughs.
How to Use Tinctures (For Topical Use)
Tinctures can also be used externally to address various skin issues, pain relief, and more. They are typically applied directly to the skin or diluted in lotion or oil.
Added to oils or lotions
Here are some recipes that I like to add tinctures to.
Homemade beeswax salve: I like to add chamomile tincture or calendula tincture.
Beeswax body butter: I like to add lavender tincture to this recipe.
Cold-infused rosehip oil – I like to add a dosage of rosehip tincture to this.
Tips for Making Alcohol-Based Tinctures
Choose quality ingredients – Aim to use high-quality, organic herbs and food-grade alcohol if you can find it. Tinctures are concentrations of the plant material you use, so it’s best to use the highest quality you can find.
Use a high-proof alcohol – If you’re using fresh plant material in a tincture, it’s best to use a higher-proof alcohol (over 40% alcohol) because it will help counteract the water in the fresh plants. Water can make tinctures spoil more quickly but strong alcohol helps prevent this from happening.
Avoid foraging from areas sprayed with poisons like herbicides – If you’re harvesting fresh plants, make sure that you forage in an area that has not been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides. The alcohol in tinctures will not remove the herbicide or pesticide residue and it will persist in your tincture so it’s crucial to forage from an unsprayed area.
Proper storage – The best way to store tinctures is in small bottles (I use these dark amber glass dropper bottles) to protect them from UV light. Exposure to direct sunlight can degrade the active compounds in your tinctures.
Dosage – Start with a small amount and increase gradually, observing how your body reacts.
Popular Herbs for Tinctures
Here are some popular herbs and their benefits, ideal for making tinctures:
- Echinacea: Boosts the immune system and fights infections.
- Elderberry: Rich in antioxidants, supports immune health.
- Chamomile: Calming, helps with sleep and digestion.
- Lavender: Soothes skin, and reduces anxiety and stress.
- Calendula: Heals wounds, anti-inflammatory.
- Rhodiola: Helps improve mood and concentration.
Disclaimer – I’m not a medical professional and do not intend to offer medical or health advice in any content I create. I offer information for educational purposes and, as always, get your physician’s advice or the advice of your health care provider before trying a new herbal remedy. There are always possible unintended consequences of trying a new herbal remedy such as an allergic reaction or unexpected side effects like interactions with other medication.
What to read next
How To Make A Herbal Tincture With Dried Herbs
How To Take An Herbal Tincture (Beginner’s Guide)
Here’s How To Remove Alcohol From Herbal Tinctures (Three Methods)
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