Making herbal extracts: Kitchen magic at its finest!
Herbal tinctures are easy to make at home, and also readily available in stores. Fluid extracts are a more concentrated form of liquid herbal preparation, generally equal to one part liquid (a combination of alcohol and water) to one part herb.
Preparing a tincture is typically a leisurely process. It can be this simple: choose an appropriate blend of alcohol and water for the particular herb, bearing in mind that at least 25% alcohol is required to keep the tincture sterile. Add that liquid (called the menstruum) to a chopped, fresh or dried portion of herb, and let it infuse in a jar or other glass container, shaking it occasionally, over a period of three to six weeks. Strain the mix, to remove the plant matter (called the marc) from the menstruum, and voila! There’s your tincture, which will contain nearly all of the active phytochemicals in the herb, in a stable and convenient form. Tinctures are generally prepared at an herb-to-solvent ratio in the range of 1:5-1:8.
Choosing the optimal ratio of alcohol and water for the menstruum reflects the nature of the phytochemicals you intend to extract. The minimum 25% alcohol is good for herbs with mostly water-soluble compounds such as mucopolysaccharides, mucilage, minerals, and some glycosides (flavonoids and some saponins, for example). 45-60% ethanol is appropriate for extracting alkaloids, most saponins, isobutyl amides, and essential oils. Resins and oleoresins are best extracted with a 90% ethanol menstruum.
Some herbs with mostly water-soluble constituents include Marshmallow Root, Slippery Elm Bark, and Willow Bark. Higher alcohol concentrations are better for many others including Echinacea Root, Skullcap, and California Poppy. The Herbal Materia Medica on Michael Moore’s Southwest School of Botanical Medicine website is one source of information on formulating the menstruum for tincturing many herbs. Another good reference is provided at The Naturopathic Herbalist site.
Using a few simple items of equipment—as Emily demonstrates in this YouTube video —a more potent fluid extract can be produced in a short period of time. Preparing the herb as a powder, and running the menstruum (first a stronger ethanol menstruum, then a more dilute one) through it, in a controlled-drip percolation cone apparatus, permits a thorough extraction in hours rather than days. Evaporating most of the resulting liquid off, over low heat in a double boiler or slow cooker, results in a highly concentrated 1:1 fluid extract that can be effective at lower doses than a tincture. Fluid extracts contain a small portion of the solid remnants of the marc, and should always be shaken before use.
Some of the best herbs for fluid extracts include Licorice Root, Yarrow, Agrimony, Yerba Mansa, Burdock Root, Eleuthero, Passionflower, Milk Thistle Seeds, Dandelion Root, Valerian Root, and Wild Yam.
Making your own herbal tinctures and fluid extracts is smart, easy, and fun!
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