Air in jar while setting a tincture?

[Lisa BatemanStudent]

I heard an herbalist say there shouldn’t be a lot of air in a steeping tincture because it will oxidize. I set dry echinacea in 40% vodka in a quart jar at 1:7. Overnight it soaked up the vodka and there wasn’t much toom for it to move around.  I transfered it to a half gallon jar and added more vodka to cover dry herbs. Now there is a lot of air in the jar. Is the air in the jar truly an issue or problem?

Lisa Bateman

• This topic was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by Lisa Bateman.

[Lisa BatemanStudentTopic Author]

I just rewatched the tincture making lesson and see that Doc’s jar wasn’t even half full…so I guess the air in the jar isn’t a problem. Yay, I feel better now!

Lisa Bateman

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Susan Bryg

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Yeah, I wouldn’t worry too much about air in the bottle. My bottles are usually pretty full but I don’t think it’ll change much.

If you think about how much air exposure a dry herb has before it gets tinctured it gets pretty hard to think another week or two of seeing some air in the tincture bottle is going to change anything.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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Lisa Bateman

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