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Jacqueline Hicks
I have been using Everclear (I live in MN, it’s legal) as my menstruum for making tinctures with fresh herbs. So far I have only made a lemon balm tincture and a goldenrod tincture. I pretty much went by the “folk method” and filled a jar 1/2 to 3/4 the way full with fresh leaves and/or flowers and then filled it to the top with the Everclear. I waited 4 weeks (shaking often) and then filtered out the plant material. At no point did I cut it with water or do any advanced math. Would this be making a tincture that is “too strong”? Is there any reason doing it this way would be bad or harmful to a body ingesting it? Or does it destroy the plants benefits in the process? Are there any plants that I would be lessening the benefits from by doing it this way?
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Dr. Patrick Jones
Some plants like myrrh, frankincense etc…that are trees saps really do do best with everclear. Others that are done fresh have enough water content that everclear is the only way to keep them from diluting the tincture to where it could spoil.
That said, I prefer vodka over Everclear for almost every herb. The reason is that plants contain two kinds of chemicals, water soluble and fat soluble. Everclear is almost 100% alcohol so it is great at the fat soluble stuff but not as good for the water soluble chemicals. Vodka is 40-50% alcohol (the other half being water) so al of the chemicals in the plant are happy to extract.
I usually dry everything before tincturing. Saves me the risk of diluting the booze because of high water content in the fresh plant.
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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Well, looks like I’ll have to switch-a-roo my booze and methods a bit and tinker with my tinctures. Haha! Thank you so much for the information and your time! This school has been an incredible resource. Thanks again!
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I’m glad you’re enjoying it Jacquline.
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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Terri Mueller
I am just starting so I’m not sure if you have this info posted. When you dry, do you hang to dry or is it best to freeze dry?
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I dry everything on a wire shelf with some screen door fabric on it so stuff doesn’t fall through. Have a look at the Herbal Gardening Section. There’s a lesson there on Harvesting, Drying & Processing Herbs
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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Kathleen Dowling
I have also used Everclear for a few tinctures, but usually use Vodka as well. I find it a bit easier to use a digital scale to weigh out everything as it helps keep my math straight. For myself, I find the Vodka has less alcohol taste over the Everclear and most of the time it’s a bit less expensive as well. Best of luck with your medicine making, it does get easier!
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Karon Marie Henick
So if Vodka is 40% water, could we dilute the Everclear and it still be good to make a dry herb tincture? I live in a dry county and any booze is an hour away and I have the Everclear already bought.
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Yup. Everclear + Water = Vodka. :0)
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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