HERBAL MEDICINE: Tinctures

Perhaps the most prevalent method of making herbal extracts for ingestion are simple, yet highly effective, tinctures.

Thyme/White Vinegar Tincture

Tinctures can be made using either vinegar or alcohol. Alcohol is generally accepted as the better, more potent choice for medicinal purposes. However, the vinegars are very versatile and can be used for culinary purposes as well. If you plan on primarily using your tinctures to treat small children medicinally, use vinegar.

MATERIALS:

Clean Glass Jar

Plant Material

Solvent*

Cheesecloth

Small Glass Bottle

*Choose One: Vodka, Brandy, White Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar

PROCEDURE: 

Stuff plant material into a clean glass jar. Pour chosen solvent into jar, enough to cover your plant material by an inch or two. Place the jar in a sunny window for approximately 4 to 6 weeks. Strain the plant material out of the solvent with cheesecloth and store your tincture in a small (preferably dark colored) glass bottle in a dark, dry, cool place.

HARVEST: Air Drying Herbs

You can easily dry your herbs using materials found around your home. I recommend this method of drying for large batches, especially for woody stemmed plants. 

I have found that it's much easier to process large batches of herbs by air drying than by dehydrating, especially woody stemmed plants with small leaves like Thyme. Be advised though, air drying can take several weeks as opposed to a day in the dehydrator.

MATERIALS:

Coat Hanger

String (Thread/Yarn/Twine, etc)

Fresh Herbs, washed and dried

PROCEDURE:

Gather herbs together in small bunches  by the stems and tie together with string, leaving ends 5-6" long. Tie ends of string to the coat hanger, letting the bunches dangle freely. Hang the coathanger in a dry, ventilated place away from direct sunlight. Allow herbs to hang until leaves are completely dry and crumble easily. Strip leaves from stems and store whole in a glass jar in a cool, dark, dry place. They store well for at least a year, after which they will begin to lose some potency.

When you need to refill your pantry shaker, pour your dried herbs into a small blender or mortar/pestle and grind as needed.