What is a Tincture?
No lie, I throw the term ‘tincture’ around as if everyone else understands me, but that is a poor assumption. We know other medical words like herbal medicine, drops of liquid suspension, or syringe. Now put all of that together, and you get a tincture! Well, not exactly, but in a nutshell.
Traditionally, tinctures and teas were the first forms of medicine we had before pills or capsules. They were a way for medicine healers or shamans to preserve medicinal herbs and give them to their community members when they were ill.
A tincture usually contains berries, roots, and/or leaves from an herb or tree that have been picked at an optimal time, processed in whichever way extracts the components needed, and then mixed with grain alcohol or glycerin to be preserved.
A traditional tincture contains only the liquid extract of the plant(s) and the preservative base. This liquid is then placed in a storage bottle, usually brown or amber.
Amber colored glass maintains freshness by protecting the medicine from sunlight
Why are tinctures in brown glass bottles?
Well, the amber-colored glass is chosen to maintain the freshness of the substance within by protecting it from sunlight. Doctors have used the Boston round amber glass bottles for many medicines for many years, and these same bottles remain the standard. Sunlight can degrade certain compounds faster, and amber-tinted glass protects those constituents so they stay fresher for longer. Some tinctures are stored in clear or blue bottles. A clear bottle is okay, but not ideal as the tincture may not stay as fresh.
The most common form of preservation of an herb or its parts is with grain alcohol, but some are preserved in glycerin, a sugary syrup.
Which type do you choose?
You would select an alcohol-based tincture because it is generally easier to find and shelf-stable longer after opening. If you are someone who cannot tolerate alcohol or administering herbs to children, a glycerin-based tincture is preferred. Typically, a glycerin-based tincture is shelf-stable for about six months from opening, and an alcohol-based tincture can be shelf-stable for up to 1-2 years after opening.
Echinacea purpura
Now, a tincture may contain just one herb or plant or multiple herbs or parts of plants. For example, let’s talk about Echinacea purpura. Echinacea purpura is a perennial plant with a beautiful flower that is well known for its immune-supportive properties. You can purchase this herb in a dry tea form or a tincture.
Some companies allow you to purchase a single herb or blend it with other herbs that they have specifically formulated for a particular condition. The blend may have a label such as immune support, vital immune, or some other creative name to target a particular condition.
An example of a tincture that is not made from an herb or its parts is Elderberry syrup. Sambucus nigra is the Latin name for a tree. The parts most commonly used from this tree are the flowers, berries, and leaves. When we make Elderberry syrup, we use just the berries and not the leaves or flowers. The Elderberry is commonly used for immune support during colds and flu, whereas the Elderflower is used for things like upper respiratory and sinus infections, to name a few.
When administering a tincture, most smaller one- or two-ounce brown glass bottles have a dropper attached to the rubber cap top. Some companies now label the dropper with lines showing where about 0.25mL to 1mL would be.
A full dropper is approximately 20 drops. A full dropper is not what you see physically but full when you squeeze the rubber top and suction up as much of the tincture into the dropper as possible. (see below video description)
When you do this, you will notice that the whole dropper will not fill but rather about 3/4 full. This is correct; you are not crazy; that is just the maximum amount you can suction up into the dropper.
When taking the tincture, it is ideal to place it directly into your mouth or on your tongue, let it sit for a few seconds, and then swallow.
This form of administration ensures you get the maximum dosage and goes systemically throughout your body quicker. Have you ever tasted a tincture? Yes, I agree that some are not so easy to swallow on their own. In cases where the taste is not as tolerable, you can add the tincture to a juice or water and swallow. For young children, I find that using a syringe or putting it in a small amount of juice is more successful for administration.
HERE TO EMPOWER YOU WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HAPPINESS AND HEALTHINESS,
DR. MEG
DISCLAIMER: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This post is not meant to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose conditions or diseases and is meant for educational purposes. None of the recommended products are ideal for under the age of 12 months. Not all herbs are meant for everyone so please read ingredients in the event of any allergies, medications, or health conditions that may interfere with these herbs. All dosages are generalized and not meant to be specific to each individual person. As always, please consult your doctor before trying any new treatments or supplements.
