Tinctures are herbs concentrated in
alcohol. Tinctures are made by slowly extracting the
finest herbs available over a four to six (4-6) week period.
Tinctures offer many advantages over other forms of herbal ingestion. Tinctures insure you get the full spectrum of needed constituents. Chaparral tincture, for example, contains important ingredients that are not soluble in water. Therefore, simple Chaparral tea lacks those constituents which do not dissolve in water. Some companies use an extraction process carried out without heating the herbs, thus insuring the preservation of heat sensitive essential oils.
Tinctures are a convenient way to ingest herbs. In 1 oz. dropper bottles, with glass droppers, they can be carried in your pocket or purse. Tinctures allow you the freedom to easily take herbs anywhere, any time, without kitchen preparation. Disagreeable tasting herbs can be swallowed more quickly and can be masked with juice. While herbs in capsules are also convenient, their essential components are neither as readily available as those in tinctures nor are they assimilated as easily. Capsules disintegrate and are digested in the stomach; tinctures begin to be absorbed immediately upon entering the mouth. The alcohol aids the absorption; however, it can be evaporated by putting the tincture in hot water, if desired.
Alcohol also acts as a preservative. Stored in a cool, dark place, tinctures can easily last five years or more! Avoid heat, sunlight and exposure to air and your tinctures will keep their "just picked" freshness for as long as you own them.
Proper dosage is paramount. When using a tincture, try a few drops first to see whether you are allergic to it, then increase the dosage to your needs. Ma-Huang and Valerian are the most likely to cause allergic reactions. It is not uncommon to need 3-4 dropper-fulls for a desired flavor and feeling.
Most herbalists believe herbs work best when taken regularly, in small doses over a period of time. Dosages for children are 1/3 to 1/2 of the adult dosage. One must be very careful about giving young children certain herbs. Check with a local herbalist or Naturopathic physician if you have any doubts.
Many tinctures are concentrated herbal teas, a food product. They are not sold as medicines or remedies. Nevertheless, many people will attempt to use them as such. Understand what the herb will do before you take it and check with a health care professional, versed in herbal knowledge to find out the proper herb for you.
Certain herbs should not be combined with pharmaceutical medicine and other drugs. Nervine herbs such as Valerian, Skullcap and Betony should not be mixed with alcohol or sedatives. People taking complex drugs like hormones, thyroid drugs, anti-cholinergics and even antibiotics should be careful about the unpredictable "side effects" of combining them with certain herbs. Aspirin or salicylate herbs (Willows, Oaks, Poplars) should not be combined with anticoagulants. Plants high in tannins (Willows, black tea, coffee) interfere with the absorption of many drugs, even canceling their effects.
Note: Viable Herbal Solutions does not currently offer herbal tincture products. However, many other reputable companies who do offer such products can found on the Internet.
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