Looking for a DIY Father’s day gift that dad will love!? Why not try making him a tincture.
Tinctures are a concentrated herbal medicine usually made with dried herbs and an ethanol and water blend. Tinctures can be made very simply, store incredibly well and can be customised easily making them an important part of any herbalists’ apothecary. There are a few different ways to make tinctures, however below I’m going to outline the ‘folk’ method which is by far the simplest as it involves using store bought vodka (approx. 40% ethanol). A more precise method of tincture making requires access to ~100 ethanol which can be tricky for the average person to obtain.
For this Father’s Day tincture recipe, I’ve chosen three herbs to create a tincture to boost cognition and performance. I’m sure most dad’s will be happy with that!
Brahmi is a wonderful tonic herb with the ability to give strength to the mind and rejuvenate the nervous system. Gotu kola has been included for its adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory actions. Lastly, Siberian ginseng helps to boost performance and support stress and fatigue.
By Tamara Welsh, Happy Herbalist
You’ll need:
- 1 cup dried Brahmi
- ½ cup Gotu kola
- 1 cup Siberian ginseng
- 2 cups Vodka
Method:
To make your tincture combine the herbs in a mortar and pestle, blender or coffee grinder and grind to a course powder.
Place herbs into a sterilised glass jar. The jar should just fit the herbs and vodka. Pour over the vodka ensuring that all the herbs are covered. Lid the jar tightly and give it a good shake. Leave your tincture to macerate for 2-8 weeks shaking the jar daily.
Strain the herbs through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Decant into an amber bottle and seal. Don’t forget to label your tincture. Store in a cool dark place.
Dosing is very individual so always start small to begin with. An expected adult dose is 5ml (or 1 teaspoon) 3 times daily.
Feel free to create a tincture out of any herbs you like! Just remember to always check cautions and contraindications for any herb you choose.
Happy tincture making!
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