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 medicines we had before pills or capsules. They were a way for healers or shamans to preserve medicinal herbs and give them to their community members when ill.
What does a tincture contain?
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 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?
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 types of medicines, not just herbal tinctures, 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.
How do tinctures maintain shelf stability?
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.
You would select an alcohol-based tincture because it is generally easier to find and shelf-stable longer after opening. An alcohol-based tincture can be shelf-stable for up to 1-2 years 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.
Echinacea purpura
What parts of the plants are used in tinctures?
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 offer the single herb or they may 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.
How do I take a tincture?
When administering or ‘taking’ 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. 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.
How much of a tincture should I take?
Just like in pharmaceuticals, where taking 200mg of ibuprofen is WAY different than taking 800mg, the same can be said about herbal medicines, so please read the label carefully.
Ultimately, you need to talk to your healthcare provider because some herbs may interact with certain medications in specific amounts or in general. If they cannot answer it for you, I am available!
Dosage depends on a few factors:
The potency of the herb matters—some companies make really ‘concentrated’ tinctures, which should be administered in DROPS, whereas less concentrated herbs can be taken by the DROPPER FULLS.
The type of herb or part of the plant matters—some herbs are considered low-dose herbs, meaning a very little bit goes a long way because their constituents are strong.
The condition you are taking the herb for matters- If you are treating an acute condition such as a cold or flu, more frequent administrations in a day for only a few days are warranted vs. a chronic condition such as chronic pain, which you may do less frequently each day but for many months.
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.
