Everclear or Vodka for Tinctures?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

I recently received an email asking whether Everclear or vodka was best for tincture making. Thought I’d post my reply here so others could see….

Alcohol in a tincture serves two purposes, it preserves and it acts as a solvent to extract the chemicals from the plants. Anything above 25% (50 proof) is adequate for preservation.

The solvent function is the interesting point. Some chemicals in plants are water soluble, others are alcohol soluble. Everclear is almost pure alcohol (no water) vodka is about half alcohol and half water. So, if you were tincturing dried plants that were very oily, gummy or resinous (in other words, not water soluble) such as myrrh, gumweed, juniper etc… You’d want to use everclear to maximize the extraction of the oily chemicals. However, for almost all other plants, vodka is actually best because it contains both water and alcohol and will therefore extract the widest spectrum of chemicals.

Now, there is one more caveat….

If you are tincturing fresh plants that have a high water content, you could argue that everclear is a good idea because the fresh plants contain a fair bit of water which will serve to dilute the everclear. So, if your friend is talking about fresh plants, she’s right. If she’s talking about dried plants, that aren’t oily or resinous, she’ll do better to use vodka.

Hope that answers your question. Holler if it doesn’t. 🙂

Patrick

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

[sstolzenburgStudent]

Doc, you mention dissolving myrrh. I want to make a salve with myrrh as an ingredient. I am trying to dissolve myrrh gum in olive oil. It doesn’t really dissolve much, and I wonder if heating the myrrh in oil would do it? Not too hot, but enough to dissolve the myrrh. Would the medicinal value be diminished? If I use Everclear, I would need to boil off the alcohol, then there might be a sludge left from the little bit of water? I really want an oil infusion. Sorry to go off topic.

Steve

[IdahoHerbalist]

I do not think the everclear or the little bit of water left would be an issue for the salve. We make salves with all sorts of combinations of ingredients that leave bits of both alcohol and water behind with minimal influence. If you add a bit of vitamin E oil to it there should be a seriously extended shelf life as well.

We also make oil infusions with fresh plant matter with minimal negative results.

What are the ingredients being added? Wondering if there is something that would help with shelf life already being added.

Maybe a bit more explanation why the alcohol or water is the concern?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead InstructorTopic Author]

sstolzenburg wrote: Doc, you mention dissolving myrrh. I want to make a salve with myrrh as an ingredient. I am trying to dissolve myrrh gum in olive oil. It doesn’t really dissolve much, and I wonder if heating the myrrh in oil would do it? Not too hot, but enough to dissolve the myrrh. Would the medicinal value be diminished? If I use Everclear, I would need to boil off the alcohol, then there might be a sludge left from the little bit of water? I really want an oil infusion. Sorry to go off topic.

Steve

Why not make a lotion instead?

Make an oil infusion of the myrrh in a double boiler. Strain and melt in 1 oz bees wax per cup of oil.

Then add 1 cup of myrrh tincture for every cup of oil and blend with a Bamix or blender.

Or, if you really want an oil, soak the myrrh in 1/2 part everclear for several hours. Then add 7 parts olive oil and put all in a blender. When the sides of the blender get warm, you have an oil infusion.

Doc

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

[sstolzenburgStudent]

Sounds like some good suggestions, but I have a question about the saturation level.. I tried a 40% alcohol vodka because that is what I could find. I tried Myrrh gum powder, and I got a big clump of the gum in the bottom of the flask, and a cloudy brown liquid. If the myrrh doesn’t dissolve after a day or so, Is the alcohol fully saturated, and won’t accept more resin? also it is a bit cloudy, I guess that is from the water? Thanks for the suggestion about the vitamin E.

I also tried a 50% concentration of glycerin and water and got similar results. I think the glycerin would make a good mouth wash, but I am not too keen on glycerin on the skin, so I am more into the idea of using oil infusion if I can make it work. I am still a bit hesitant about the alcohol.

The disadvantage of the glycerin is the consistency of the syrup you get. It doesn’t make a good topical wash unless it is mostly water, then it is pretty weak. .

[IdahoHerbalist]

How much myrrh to how much alcohol?

[sstolzenburgStudent]

yes.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Good, now try doubling the amount of alcohol and see if more dissolves.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead InstructorTopic Author]

sstolzenburg wrote: Sounds like some good suggestions, but I have a question about the saturation level.. I tried a 40% alcohol vodka because that is what I could find. I tried Myrrh gum powder, and I got a big clump of the gum in the bottom of the flask, and a cloudy brown liquid. If the myrrh doesn’t dissolve after a day or so, Is the alcohol fully saturated, and won’t accept more resin? also it is a bit cloudy, I guess that is from the water? Thanks for the suggestion about the vitamin E.

I also tried a 50% concentration of glycerin and water and got similar results. I think the glycerin would make a good mouth wash, but I am not too keen on glycerin on the skin, so I am more into the idea of using oil infusion if I can make it work. I am still a bit hesitant about the alcohol.

The disadvantage of the glycerin is the consistency of the syrup you get. It doesn’t make a good topical wash unless it is mostly water, then it is pretty weak. .

Myrrh really must have Everclear to tincture if you want it to go into solution. It’s just too resinous for vodka.

Doc

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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