This afternoon I have been making tinctures from what is available in the garden at this time of the year. That is mostly roots and bark. I found roots of dandelion, meadowsweet, and lady's mantle and bark of willow and barberry. The procedure is dead simple. I strip the bark off the branches with a sharp knife. After digging up the roots I give them a good rinse and scrub and then I cut them up. Each plant root or bark goes in a different jam jar and then I pour vodka on. The first week I shake them every day, to make sure the material is covered in alcohol. Then I put the jars in a cupboard and leave them for a few weeks. When they're ready I pour out the jar in a sieve lined with a piece of fabric and the tincture is ready to use. I will tell you more about how to use it and what to use it for later!
Can't wait to see what these are all about! I make calendula balm which gets used for anything and everything (brilliant for insect bites, and has even been known to stop a cold sore in its tracks), but haven't tried making tinctures yet.
ReplyDeleteI've tried making a meadowsweet tincture for the first time. Used mainly flowers but some stems & leaves, covered with vodka & left in a dark cupboard for 6 weeks. Have shaken it on a weekly basis. After sieving & filtering the resulting liquid is milky green. Is it safe?
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