< previous page | page_27 | next page >
Page 27
| sary. For home use it is best to use an alcohol of at least 30 percent (60 proof) vodka, for instance, as this is about the weakest alcohol/water mixture with a long term preservative action. |
| To make an alcoholic tincture: |
| 1. Put 4 oz. of finely chopped or ground dried herb into a container that can be tightly closed. If fresh herbs are used, twice the amount should be used. |
| 2. Pour 1 pint of 30 percent (60 proof) vodka on the herbs and close tightly. |
| 3. Keep the container in a warm place for two weeks and shake it well twice every day. |
| 4. After decanting the bulk of the liquid, pour the residue into a muslin cloth suspended in a bowl. |
| 5. Wring out all the liquid. The residue makes excellent compost. |
| 6. Pour the tincture into a dark bottle. It should be kept well stoppered. |
| As tinctures are stronger than infusions or decoctions, the dosage to be taken is much smaller, depending on the herb. Tinctures may be used in a variety of ways. They can be taken straight, mixed with water, or they can be added to a cup of hot water. If this is done, the alcohol will largely evaporate, leaving most of the extract in the water, possibly making the water cloudy as resins and other constituents not soluble in water will precipitate. Some drops of the tincture can be added to a bath or footbath, used in a compress or mixed with oil and fat to make an ointment. |
| Another form of alcohol-based medicine are the |
< previous page | page_27 | next page >

If you like this book, buy it!