Out of all the things I teach people when it comes to herbalism, this is the one thing that I teach the most. Some days I get a stank eye and get told I have no idea what I’m talking about. Other days, I see the light bulb come on, and it makes complete and total sense. And, honestly, why wouldn’t it?
What am I talking about?
Glad you asked.
Let’s rip the band-aid off, because there’s no other way.
I don’t use the folk method for making herbal tinctures.
That’s right. Gasps everywhere. The holy grail and 90% of the internet tell us to make tinctures by using the folk method, but I simply don’t find it as reliable as the method that I use. And honestly, my family isn’t a guinea pig for me to guess how much, or how little, is needed in a tincture.
As I study to become a Master Herbalist, the courses I’ve chosen are scientific and evidence based learning structures. We go through real life clinical studies done by doctors that believe in herbalism, and even doctors that don’t. Even the great James Green himself admits that the folk method isn’t as reliable. And here’s why…
Let me first start by saying that using the folk method isn’t wrong. Yes, absolutely, it has its uses. It’s the most widely used method for a reason. But I fear that reason is simply because it’s the most commonly known from a “folk” standard. Its easy and referred to by herbalists that have grown into herbalism through wild crafted schools. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, sometimes we have to challenge what we’ve always done if we want to achieve greater results.
Because herblism isn’t monitored by any government entity, it means that just about anyone can become an herbalist. But I wanted more when I started this journey. I didn’t just want to hope something worked, I wanted to know it would work.
Enter side stage: science…
Yes, science. Sorry to burst your bubble. Believe it or not, if the Egyptians can create an entire materia medica journal (and more) in 1535 B.C. with detailed anatomy of the human body far advanced for their civilization, then we most certainly can take advantage of our God given brains that allow us to do research and expand our knowledge about the human body and botany from a scientific standpoint.
Right? Right…
When making a tincture with the folk method, you are often times instructed to fill a jar 1/4 of the way with your choice of herb, and then fill the jar the rest of the way up with your alcohol of choice (typically vodka), or glycerin. You leave a headspace, voila, you’re done. Your tincture will set for 4-6 weeks, shake it a couple times a day, leave it in a dark place (poor tincture)….you get it.
While these types of tinctures can be highly effective, and have been for centuries, there’s no way to tell how much of the herb is actually being extracted.
You see, the issue is that dense herbs look like a lot less than herbs that aren’t as dense. Take the above photo, for instance. All of these herbs have been weighed out to 1 ounce, and yet, they all look like completely different measurements.
This is why I prefer the weight to volume ratio of making a tincture.
This isn’t something new. Making tinctures using the weight to volume method has always been quite common, but for some reason, not as quick to rise to fame and glory. This is most likely because many wild foragers had to make their tinctures in the field using fresh herbs. We don’t do that much anymore either, because it’s best to use dried or wilted herbs (less water extraction).
Using a weight to volume ratio allows me to know what, exactly, is in this tincture, and the exact amount that I should be giving to my family and friends when it comes to medicinal compounds that have been extracted.
Often times, we make herbal remedies and become discouraged because they simply don’t work. Could it be that it’s actually us that is the issue?
When we choose not to measure out our herbs and liquids, we will consistently get a different extraction each time. Not only that, but we can severely overdose, or under dose, with the folk method as well—causing bad reactions, or no reaction at all.
So, how do we make a tincture using the weight to volume method? Very easily…
A typical tincture of dried herbs is used with a 1:5 or (up to) 1:10 ratio (herb:liquid) and 80-100 proof vodka, or glycerin.
A tincture using fresh herbs is used with a 1:2 or up to 1:5 ratio and 100 proof vodka. This is because fresh herbs will release more moisture, causing a risk of your tincture to go rancid. The higher proof vodka and a smaller ratio will even out your moisture that is released.
Tincture measurement examples:
1 ounce of dried herb to 5 ounces of liquid (1:5).
3 ounces of dried herb to 15 ounces of liquid (because 3×5 [1:5] is 15 — therefore 1:5 = 3:15)
3 ounces of fresh herb to 6 ounces of liquid (because 3×2 [1:2] is 6 — 1:2 = 3:6)
Once you have made your tincture mixture, cap it tightly, place it in a cool dark place (without much temperature fluctuation) for 4-6 weeks, shaking a couple of times each day. When your tincture is ready, strain the herbs out, bottle the remaining liquid into a brown glass eyedropper bottle, and store it in your medicine cabinet (dark place) or refrigerator for 18-24 months or more. If kept in your fridge, it can last much longer. It all depends on the environment around you. Some tinctures can last 5+ years.
Because we know the exact ratio of herb that was extracted, we can now confidently dose our loved ones, knowing that more likely than not, our creation will work. The only thing you have to worry about now is upping the dosage if you need to combat an issue more aggressively, rather than making an entirely new tincture because it simply wasn’t strong enough to begin with.
Herbal medicine really is so much fun to learn about. I encourage you to seek out all kinds of information while doing so. And don’t be afraid to look past the folk norm in order to seek out a better one.
We were blessed with knowledge so that we could exceed what we’ve known in the past. Some people use that for bad big-pharma creations, while others use it to further explore the lost art of herbalism and how nature and botany collide with the human body to make beautiful things.
In everything, we must remember that in the end, herbalism isn’t God. But we sure can strive to do things in the most efficient ways with one of the most amazing tools that He’s given us—herbs.
What classes did u take? I’m looking for the right place to learn
I learned through the Franklin Institute of Wellness Vintage Remedies center
Dear Mam,
I am trying to use Wild Garlic which grows beside my house. There is a plaque nearby indicating its many uses over the years.
I am in the process of collecting the Garlic soon. I hope to pick nice garlic. Now I want to know should I pick the leaf, stem and root and use it in a tincture if I go this route.
Also Should I wash the Wild Garlic?
Can I use ordinary water?
Should I leave it to dry for long?
Can I use ordinary Vodlka or do I have to get 100% Grade Vodlka?
During the extraction of the Wild Garlic in Vodlka should I store out of light or is it relevant?
Thank you for taking the time in advance of reading this message.
Regards
Thomas Declan Galvin
[email protected]
This may be a silly question. I understand it is an ounce (weight) of dried herb to 5 oz vodka. Is that 5oz the volume of the vodka or weight? I’m assuming volume but want to make sure.
its weight by volume, so you’d measure the liquid in volume ounces.
I would like to kindly know the answer to Angie’s question as well. I just came across some of your YouTube videos and what you mentioned about the ratios makes sense. I am trying to make a Brahmi tincture and when I weighed the herbs using the 1:5 ratio it just seemed so little liquid, it barely covered the dried herb. I feel like I did something wrong.
It works better if you crush up your herbs first. You can certainly add more liquid, you just need to make note of it so you know the proper dosage.
Hello,
Thank you for your posts. I have a question that I can not find the answer to anywhere. Or even anything relating to this. So I hope you may have some insight on this matter.
I made a lions mane tincture. I let the mushrooms soak in the alcohol jar for way too long. Months. Many months. I had 3 jars full, so in hopes I didn’t ruin it, I went through with the double extraction since I couldn’t find any information on this particular situation. I boiled the mushrooms down, mixed the water and alcohol and all seemed well, besides that I think the mushrooms may have fermented. Again, no info online about this. I figured I’d keep going with my experiment. I then bottled the tincture up into a bunch of tiny (clean) bottles, did the math for the % of alcohol and stored it on a shelf in a box. It has been about 6 months so I decided to check on my experiment. There is sediment at the bottom of the bottles that breaks up when shaken. It doesn’t seem right. Yet again, no info on this online either. Do you have any insight? Is it normal to have sediment at the bottom (almost scoby like before shaken). Do you know what happens when mushrooms sit too long in alcohol? Do they ferment? If so, what does that do to the tincture? So many unknowns with this.
Thank you for any help you are able to give.
Its totally normal for a tincture. All tinctures generally have sediment at the bottom 🙂 You’re fine!
How about powered herbs? What ratio do you use. Still 1:5? I did 4 oz powered herbs to 1 pint vodka and it turned into a wet ball of power. I added more vodka and it seems good but I’m like you and want to exact science working for us.
Also when doing 1 ounce herb do you still use ounce on your scale or switch it to FL oz for your liquid?
Last question haha… What school did you attend?
Hello! Just wanted to thank you for this information! I’ve been learning so much and seem to be just scratching the surface. Been using essential oils for several years but starting to grow my own plants to make tinctures and salves for the family. I appreciate the science behind it all and how the Lord is always providing for us. Thanks again!