Ancient Arabic alchemists made tinctures by macerating flowers and herbs, accenting them with spices, and boiling them over glass vials over wood fires. Throughout the Middle Ages, distillation was practiced by physicians, botanists, and apothecaries. If you take out the complications of distillation infusions, steeped traditionally, tinctures are an affordable way to spice up your medicine cabinet, food, and drinks.
When using herbs, always choose quality over quantity and understand what menstruum to use. In alchemy, your menstruum is your Mercury, half of your foundation. The most common menstruums are alcohol, vinegar, and vegetable glycerin.
How much Herbs do I use?
- Fresh herbs: Fill your jar ⅔-¾ of the way and add your solvent to fill your jar.
- Dried herbs: Fill your jar half full with your herb of choice and add your solvent.
How Long to Infuse Your Tincures?
We always recommend using 80-proof alcohol and steeping your herbs in a dark room for 6-8 weeks. This allows for the strongest solution.
Things to Keep in Mind
- When using fresh herbs, don’t skip the chopping step! This releases all of the beneficial oils of the herb(s) for your tincture.
- Shake your jar every couple of days.
- Use cheesecloth to strain your herbs when your 6-8 weeks are up. Make sure to label and store in a dark medicine cabinet.
- Use a good jar that seals shut to avoid contamination.
Supplies
Post Tags :