< previous page | page_75 | next page >
Page 75
| Wring out all the liquid. The residue makes excellent compost. |
| 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 and possibly making the water cloudy, as resins and other constituents not soluble in water will precipitate. Some drops of the tincture may 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 is the liquid extract, also known as a fluid extract. It is much more concentrated than tinctures with one part by volume of the fluid extract being equivalent to one part by weight of the herb. |
| Another way of making an alcohol-based preparation is to infuse herbs in wine. Even though wine-based preparations do not have the shelf life of tinctures and are not as concentrated, they can be both pleasant to take and effective. |
| To Make a Glycerin-based Tincture |
| Tinctures based on glycerin have the advantage of being milder on the digestive tract and do not involve the problems associated with alcohol abuse. However, they have the disadvantage of not dissolving resinous or oily materials as well. As a solvent, glycerin is generally better than water but not as good as alcohol. |
| To make a glycerin tincture, make up 1 pint of a mixture consisting of one part glycerin and one part water; add 4 ounces of the dried ground herb and leave it in a well-stoppered |
< previous page | page_75 | next page >

If you like this book, buy it!