How to make a tincture without alcohol?
- Airtight jars.
- Mortar for herbs – granite.
- Mortar for herbs – stainless steel.
- Funnels for filling bottles.
- Large bottles, dark glass.
- Medium bottles, dark glass.
- Small bottles with dropper, dark glass.
- Cloth for tincture filtering.
How can I Make my alcoholic tincture taste better?
- You feel the effects quickly
- You can easily control the amount of tincture you take
- Marijuana tinctures are discreet (meaning you don’t have to worry about standing out)
- Tinctures are safe
- Tinctures have a long shelf life when stored properly
Can I get rid of the alcohol in a tincture?
Removing alcohol from tinctures Herbal lore maintains that you can remove virtually all alcohol from a tincture by dropping the preparation slowly into a cup of boiling water, with the idea that the alcohol will evaporate off and leave the active herbal extract behind.
How to make Hawthorn tincture with or without alcohol?
- Easier and faster absorption
- Stronger: tinctures are often more concentrated than pills
- Last longer: tinctures
What can I use instead of alcohol for tinctures?
The most common alcohol-free menstruums are water, glycerin, and vinegar. They each extract different constituents from plants and can be used alone or together to create full-spectrum plant medicine.
Can I use 40 proof vodka for tinctures?
For the majority of tinctures made using dried herbs, any type of alcohol (vodka, brandy, whiskey, gin, etc.) that has a 40-50% alcohol content will suffice.
What is alcohol based tincture?
A cannabis tincture is a concentrated alcohol-based cannabis extract, often referred to as “Green Dragon” among the cannabis community. High percentage alcohol is used as a solvent to extract the medicinal compounds (cannabinoids and terpenes) from the plant flower or “buds”.
What alcohol makes the best tincture?
80 proof vodka: Considered standard for most tinctures, 80 proof vodka should be used on fresh and dried herbs that don't have a high moisture content (such as bay, dill, fennel, sage, and thyme).
What percentage alcohol is best for tinctures?
The alcohol percentage refers to the percentage of ethanol in the tincture. Tinctures usually have 25% ethanol as a minimum.
Is glycerin the same as alcohol?
Glycerin is an “Alcohol”, or more correctly, a Fatty Alcohol.
How do you make herbal tinctures taste better?
When taking tinctures, try putting it in some water or juice to make it more palatable. If you are giving alcohol-based tinctures to children you can add it to hot tea and some of the alcohol will burn off.
How much alcohol is in tinctures?
Tips for matching your alcohol strength to the herb being tinctured: 40% to 50% alcohol by volume (80- to 90-proof vodka) • "Standard" percentage r...
What are herbal tinctures?
Herbal tinctures are the liquid from concentrated herbs soaked in alcohol. Some people use them as home remedies. Here, learn about the possible be...
What is the best tincture for children?
If you need a tincture to survive the apocalypse, alcohol is your best bet. If you’re looking for something that goes down easy, is healthy and saf...
What is the best solvent for tinctures?
To effectively preserve a tincture, you need an alcoholic medium that’s at least 20% ethanol. When it comes to herbal tinctures, this option certai...
The Quick & Easy Answer
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Safety First
There are three types of alcohol: isopropyl, methyl, and ethyl alcohol.
The Making of a Tincture
To decide which liquid base suits your unique lifestyle, it’s worthwhile to first understand how a tincture is made. Technically, a tincture is simply a liquid extract of an herb that’s been dissolved in some sort of liquid.
Alcohol
The alcohol used in tinctures is the kind you drink – ethanol or ethyl alcohol. Keep in mind that rubbing alcohol, with which many people are familiar, is poisonous for internal use. For safety purposes, it’s important to distinguish between the two.
Glycerin
Glycerin, or glycerol, is a thick, sweet-tasting liquid that’s clear in color. It's the natural result of breaking down oil or fat. Although sweet, it contains no sugar and has a low GI index unlike alcohol.
Different Preservation Mechanisms
Alcohol and glycerin both preserve herbal constituents, but they do it differently. Alcohol denatures protein, which can negatively affect living cells and even kill them. This biological sterilization can virtually wipe out the usability of an herb’s components. On the flip side, glycerin is known to preserve them.
Glycerin Tincture vs Alcohol Tincture Safety
Glycerin is an unquestionably safe preservative for tinctures. Alcohol, however, has a few toxic side effects, but these are usually minor since tinctures are administered in such small doses. As for diabetics and others who struggle with blood sugar, glycerin is a safe alternative to alcohol. The fact that it's naturally sweet is an added bonus.
Bottom Line
Glycerin has some distinct advantages when compared to alcohol in tinctures. One exception is the shelf life. If you need a tincture to survive the apocalypse, alcohol is your best bet. If you’re looking for something that goes down easy, is healthy and safe for children, consider a glycerin-based variety.
