Tinctures

Question: Is it safe to take tinctures while pregnant? I am 6 months pregnant, and would like to take some tinctures for certain ailments while pregnant. The herbs in them are all safe, but I am worried about the alcohol in the tinctures. I know there are tincutres without alcohol in them, but I am wondering about the ones with alcohol....are they safe? Also, Bach's Wildflower Remedies.....Are they safe to take while pregnant? Thanks!

Answer: doctors dont want herbs being taken while pregnant due to the not being studied by the fda im pregnant to but you shouldnt take any chances with anything with alcohol in it

Question: What are some common uses of the by-product of garlic that results from extracting garlic tinctures? I wanted to find out if their are some common uses of the left over from garlic extraction. Also, how would I go about testing this by-product for food-borne illness, and what bacteria would I specifically test for?

Answer: It is used to treat bug bites botulism may occur. You would have to start a culture and view it under a high powered microscope.

Question: Where can I buy 15ml glass bottles with dropper caps for herbal tinctures? I live in the United States and I would like to buy a several 15ml glass bottles (amber or blue) with droppers for herbal tincture/essential oils. Where could I buy several of these type bottles locally?

Answer: Mountain Rose Herbs, Starwest Botanicals or Frontier Herb Coop, or ask your health food store to order them for you. Usually what they carry is 1oz (28ml) but they can get smaller ones, too. Online they may require you to order a case but stores can buy smaller quantities, usually.

Question: Are water-based tinctures as effective as alcohol based ones? I'm currently taking a herbal remedy class, and we just discussed tinctures. Now the instructor said to use 100 proof vodka for your tinctures if possible. However, I am not 21 yet, so I was wondering if there was some other alternatives. I read online that you could use water, but there were no comparisons to show effectiveness. Does anyone know if water works just as well, or if there is an effective alternative that I could get access to? Thank you for your time.

Answer: There is an excellent book on making herbal remedies: The Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook, which tells you about all the different ways of extracting the active substances out of herbs, water, alcohol, glycerite etc. Different methods work for different substances. Usually alcohol works best. You can make tinctures and then burn off the alcohol, if you're worried about ingesting it.

Question: Anyone else into making your own tinctures? What tinctures do you make? I have valerian, echinacea, licorice, dandelion, and elderberry.

Answer: Do you want the whole list or just the top ten? Ashwaganda, Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Bloodroot, Burdock, Coltsfoot, Cleavers, Dandelion (root), Echinacea, Goldenseal, Osha...just to name a very few. I tincture both in alcohol and have been experimenting with tincturing in raw vinegar (for those who cannot take the alcohol).

Question: What am I legally required to put on a label of herbal tinctures (medicines)? The FDA is very vague about labeling herbal medicines. I make herbal tincture from ginseng. I am going to be selling it. I know I can't make claims that it heals this and that. But what is everything I am required to put on the label to comply with the law and the FDA? Adding details: Under FDA regulations herbal products fall under the catagory of Food - Dietary Supplements. I do not intend to sell it as a 'medicine". Simply a tincture or extract.

Answer: Unless you are a chemist or a scientist, or a doctor you can not sell anything as a "medicine." You need FDA approval before you can do anything like that, plus the board of health will inspect your home. You can not just cook a batch of something and start selling it. I suggest you rethink your business or be prepared for the terrible consequences which are too numerous to mention.

Question: How do I make tinctures (herbalism)? And what is a tincture anyway? And what about essential oils, what are those and how can I acquire them? I'll really aprecciate videos. Thank you!

Answer: The simpler's method is to take some of an herb (dried or fresh, depending on the specific plant) and fill a jar with it. Then pour alcohol (often brandy or vodka) to the top of the jar and screw on the lid. Let sit for six weeks or so, shaking every now and then. Perhaps open on the third day or so and pour in more alchol to make sure the alcohol is at the top. After it sits, strain off plant material and rebottle. Some excellent resources are learningherbs.com and herbmentor.com. I can vouch for these personally :-)

Question: How can you make herbal tinctures/medicines etc more palatable? They can be quite bitter.? I have tried putting the medicine in juice but the medicine is still quite bitter and my daughter won't take it. Has anyone any great tips to neutralise or reduce considerably, the bitter taste? I have tried putting the medicine in juice and using non-sugar sweeteners but the medicine is still quite bitter and my daughter, who is diabetic, won't take it. Has anyone any great tips to neutralise or reduce considerably, the bitter taste?

Answer: Put it in apple sauce or maybe try mixing with a spoonful of honey (remember the song "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down"?...it's worth a try. Don't think you'll be able to neutralize it - only mask it. Maybe ask a pharmacist because they have all sorts of tasty potions to help 'disguise' nasty tasting medicines. I would imagine that it is easier to cope with a spoonful of something slghtly distasteful than a glass of it though. Try putting it in a spoonful of sugar-free chocolate pudding or jello and then she can chase it down with the rest to get rid of the taste.

Question: Can I soak my foot in tinctures instead of taking them? The dewormer tinctures from Paragone?

Answer: why ? p.s. take lots of garlic and coconut oil also. keep looking for the truth.

Question: little white candies? absorb herbal tinctures? i want to make little white candies like butter mints that melt in your mouth. i would like to make them with as little ingredients as possible and preferably ones that i don't have to refrigerate and that will keep for a long time. if i mix just water with powered sugar and let it dry would it become hard? that seems the easiest. i am not trying to make butter mints but i love the texture of butter mints. i just want plain little sugar pills so to speak that will absorb herbal tinctures for my kids. thanks!

Answer: Just make some royal icing. If you whip it, it has a softer texture. All it is is egg white, powdered sugar, maybe a teaspoon of lemon juice, color, and flavor. If you are worried about raw egg, use powdered egg white or meringue powder. You can find it a stores that sell cake decorating supplies. Pipe it onto waxed paper and let it dry for little button candies.

Question: How are you supposed to take tinctures? I bought a ginseng tincture and I don't know how to take it..doesnt' have instructions

Answer: Probably what you bought is a Ginseng Liquid Extract. Typically, "tincture" is referring to a home-made extract. And I can't imagine any reputable brand not having dosage on the label. If you bought this from an herbalist making their own tinctures, call them up and ask for advice. Anyway, usual dose for ginseng extract is 20 to 30 drops, based on an average adult of 150 pounds. You can put it directly on the tongue, but the alcohol is hot and can cause a burn if you're sensitive, so it is usually diluted slightly. Even a tablespoon of juice or water will prevent the burn, but if you want a cup of tea you can add the extract to 6 ounces of hot water and sweeten with honey. Ginseng, when one first takes it, is a stimulant so should be taken in the morning or early afternoon, no more than 2x daily.

Question: Does anyone know of a wholesale supplier of extracts (tinctures)? Hi, I am starting an organic/natural products line and I am having a hard time finding a WHOLESALE (sells in quantities of a gallon +) extract suppliers. There are plenty of essential oil suppliers, but nothing for extracts. I am specifically looking for suppliers of extracts of Chickweed, Peppermint, Plantain leaf, and Yarrow. Must be wholesale prices. Thank you!

Answer: Yeah google Mexico Import extract suppliers

Question: How do I know if it's safe to use 2-3+ liquid herbal tinctures? Thanks

Answer: It is fine to use 2-3 herb tinctures together on any given day. They will not often interact with each other, and will more likely have a synergistic effect (this has been proven scientifically). Whether or not you are taking the correct herbs for your specific condition is another subject all together, and I didn't think that was your question. I have spent 24 years as an herbalist and an herbal educator, and there is an art to combining formulas for sure. There are several great suggestions for reference material above, but isn't it a shame that there isn't a professional herbalist on every corner to consult with like there are chiropractors? The problem is that herbalists aren't licensed. I can prescribe herbs in my practice under my acupuncture license, but you can't find many Western herbalist who can legally prescribe. Therefore, you are left asking the clerk at the health food store, looking it up in a book, or here on Answers. Hope this helps!

Question: Herbal Tinctures - I've been making mine using herbs and pure vodka as a base but can you add water? I usually make up my tinctures with 4oz herbs to 1pint high grade spirit [usually vodka...hic! ] but in the Bartram's Herbal Encyclopaedia I have just got it says that you can make up a perfectly good tincture using a mix of 25% alcohol to 75% water. Does anyone do this and what are the results? Do the tinctures keep for as long with the reduced alcohol content? I'm about to make a new batch and would like to try and get an answer before I try this new method so would be grateful for any help you can give. Very much obliged Lisa-Dawn

Answer: yes it works. Personally I think you should make them as needed, half the thing with holistic medicine is the freshness.

Question: where can I get Salvia Divinorum elixirs, tinctures and ext?

Answer: Try homoeopathic pharmacies in your area.

Question: Can you put alcoholic tinctures (deluded) into a nebulizer?

Answer: they used to do that for ppl with pulmonary edema. it reduces the bubbles, the froth. but it isn't done anymore b/c of the addiction related to alcohol. but it can be done