#CONTRAPTION MAKER PAPER PREPARATIONS HOW TO#
#CONTRAPTION MAKER PAPER PREPARATIONS PROFESSIONAL#
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Stronger is not always better! Tips for matching your alcohol strength to the herb being tinctured:Ĥ0% to 50% alcohol by volume (80- to 90-proof vodka) The appropriate alcohol strength for your tincture will depend upon the qualities of the plant material being used. Note that stronger alcohol types can be diluted with distilled water to reach a lower alcohol content by volume. Most spirits will work, but many herbalists favor a high-quality, clear, and low-flavor liquor like vodka or grain alcohol. Once you've filled your container with the correct amount of plant material, you'll need to fill the rest of the space with a high-proof alcohol.

Roots and berries will double in size when reconstituted! Alcohol Type and Strength.

Only fill jar 1/4 to 1/3 with dried roots, barks, or berries.

Jar should appear full of herb, but herb should move freely when shaken.

Only fill jar 1/3 to 1/2 with fresh roots, barks, or berries.

Finely chop or grind clean plants to release juice and expose surface area.

Cover plants completely! Fresh Roots, Barks, & Berries

Pour alcohol to the very top of the jar.Finely chop or grind clean herb to release juice and expose surface area.The appropriate alcohol strength and the relative amount of plant material to use will vary based on what you're tincturing. Here are some basic measurement guidelines: Fresh Leaves & Flowers Too much, and the amount of alcohol added won't be enough to pull out all the plant goodness from your herbs. Proportions are important here: too little, and you'll end up with a weak tincture.

Your first step is to fill your tincturing container with the correct amount of herbs. Let's get started! Here are a few important tincturing tips we've learned over the years.

#CONTRAPTION MAKER PAPER PREPARATIONS HOW TO#

Follow along as esteemed herbal educator, Thomas Easley of the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine, demonstrates how to create herbal extracts using the percolation method step-by-step:

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Much of the guidance in this post regarding herb proportions and alcohol percentages applies to both methods, but the percolation process requires a series of specific measurements and steps for effective results. If you enjoy hobbies that require care, precision, and specialized tools (or if you need a finished tincture in a couple days or less), the percolation method might be right for you! While it definitely requires more equipment, math, and work than the popular folk (maceration) method, percolation allows you to create tinctures in a fraction of the time (24 to 48 hours, on average). Some tinctures may also be used to add flavor to cocktail recipes.Ģ Ways to Tincture Herbs tHE pERCOLATION mETHOD: coMPLEX BUT qUICK Tinctures can be taken straight by the dropper or diluted in tea or sparkling water.

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Their effects will depend upon the herb or herbs tinctured, the amount and frequency taken, and the individual ingesting them, so it's recommended that folks consult a qualified medical professional for advice on appropriate use for your personal needs.

Like other herbal extracts, tinctures can be used to support a wide range of wellness goals.

Tinctures are dietary supplements in a concentrated, shelf-stable, and liquid form.

Examples include: dried stevia leaf, vanilla beans, and dried mushrooms.

They can be made with fresh or dried flowers, leaves, roots, barks, or berries.

Any spirit may be used, but many herbalists prefer something neutral like vodka so the taste of the herb comes through.

All tinctures are extracts, but not all extracts are tinctures!Alcohol must be the solvent used to extract the herbal properties. If you are using vinegar, glycerine, only water (water used to dilute alcohol is fine), or any menstruum (solvent) other than alcohol, your preparation is an extract, but it is not a tincture.

Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts.Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts that have alcohol as the solvent. An acetum is sometimes defined as 'a vinegar tincture' in the tomes, but this is a pretty rare exception. The most common mix-ups arise from misused terminology, and one term that tends to be applied to a variety of preparations is tincture. Many of us begin our studies making these simple and effective preparations, yet basic concepts sometimes become complicated when trying to decipher Latin binomial nomenclature, formulations, physiological actions, and historical research. A sip of herbal tea or a dropperful of tincture can be the catalyst for a lifelong pursuit of herbalism.

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