Right Trina, grain alcohol would be the one used NOT rubbing alcohol!!!! Also, vodka can be used too. BUT glycerin can be used also. I suppose vinegar could be used. How about Kombucha??? You could try it and see what you get. I'm game for experimenting. Maybe I'll go pick some of my home grown oregano (if it hasn't succumb to the cold yet) and try it in some KTea. Who knows?? Does Dom's site say anything about steeping herbs or infusing herbs in Ktea? Can't remember. I will look it up tomorrow, it's beddy by time for me now. Night Night all!!!!! Sweet Dreams!!!!!

OH Sharron, you can get Hops at health food stores, which they used to put into pillows in the olden days to help with sleep. Just an after thought.

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Hi, guys,

Essential oils cannot be made at home as far as I know. It's a complicated process using solvents and things. One of the reasons they are so expensive is that a HUGE amount of plant material is needed, and a tiny amount of essential oil gets extracted.

Here's Susun Weed's basic recipe for a homemade tincture. These are meant to be taken internallly, so DO NOT use rubbing alcohol. The choice to make a tincture or an infusion depends upon the part of the plant you want to get. The infusion extracts nutrients, the tincture extracts alkaloids.

Be sure you identify your plant correctly. Pick and chop the part appropriate for that plant (leaves, flowers, roots, etc.) Do not wash. Fill a jar (you choose the size) with FRESH plant material. Add 100 proof vodka or grain alcohol until full. Cap tightly and wait six weeks. Be sure to label with plant name and date. When ready to use, strain out the liquid.

The definition of "tincture" is a solution in alcohol. For those who don't want to use spirits, glycerin is sometimes used, although it doesn't work as well for most plants. Also, my high school chemistry teacher told us that glycerin is an alcohol, chemically speaking, also called glycerol (note the -ol ending). Think sugar alcohols with their -ol endings.

When I look at the tinctures in the stores, I see some are tinctured in glycerin. Vinegar does not extract the same elements as alcohol, although herbal vinegars have a definite place for culinary and nutritional use. The herbal raspberry vinegar I made is supposed to be an excellent source of calcium.

This discussion is for information purposes and for like-minded people sharing interests. Anyone wanting to start actually using herbal preparations needs to study and read and get into it slowly. Think of the advice newbies to lce get: read the book, read the book, read the book.

Have to go now, guys, have a healthy day,

Alice

Hi Herbies!!!

I woke up this AM with a KILLER sore throat. I'm so bummed, I haven't had a cold for 2 & a half years!!!! I thought I was going to make it to perfect attentdance at work this season, but the way I'm feeling, I'll be calling in sick tomorrow. SO I'm sucking down echinacea (as a glycerin tincture from NSP) and drinking echinacea tea. I've been drinking water like crazy. I had a rough time at work today, since this sore throat got worse and worse as the day progressed, and I'm on the phone talking all day long. UGH!!!!! When it advances to my chest, it's going to be very unpleasant. Usually when I feel something coming on, I start with the echinacea and it subsides...........not so this time..........it's gonna be a dooooooozy!!!! :crying:

Alice, that confirms everything. It's interesting how tinctures and teas will extract different parts of the plant/different compounds. And one could surmise that EO extracts yet a different part of the active compounds of a plant.

Fascinating!!!!!

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Hi, Barb - so sorry about your sore throat!! That echinacea should help - be sure to take the day off if you need to, rest is just as important.

Yes, you're right, I'm sure the essential oil process must get at still another part of the plant.

There is another kind of oil-y herbal product, and that is an infused oil. This is made like the tinctures, but using an oil instead of alcohol. They are possible to make at home, but trickier because they are very liable to get moldy. The maker has to watch them carefully to see if any mold is forming and try to remove the moldy part, or risk losing the whole thing if the mold takes over.

I have used two infused oils - comfrey oil as a rub on sore muscles - very nice to have dh massage me with it! I also have good old St. John's Wort as an infused oil. I have read this can be used as a sunscreen. This is very interesting because SJW in capsule form is supposed to increase sun sensitivity. SW claims that tincture taken internally does NOT have that effect, and she uses the infused oil as a sunscreen. I experimented with it last summer, but can't report because I never relied on it in a situation where I would have gotten a burn. The SJW infused oil is also used to treat any kind of damaged skin - burns or cuts. I did try it on a kitchen burn. First I did the cold water thing, then aloe - I actually taped an open aloe leaf on the burned area (my inner wrist). Then, I rubbed it several times a day with the SJW oil The whole treatment plan worked great - very little pain, and it healed without blistering.

I had not known before to use the whole SJW herb for first aid. And how interesting that cayenne stops bleeding - I always have some of that handy. Yarrow has styptic qualities too. You probably know that the Greek hero Achilles supposedly used yarrow as first aid for his soldiers, hence the scientific name for the yarrow genus, Achillea.

SW recommends yarrow tincture for first aid purposes and also as an insect repellent! I was prepared with some this summer, but never was in a buggy situation to test it. She says US Army tests show it at least as effective as DEET as a repellent, but it is not very long lasting - it must be re-applied every half hour or so.

You can also spray the yarrow tincture directly on a sore throat, and take some too as a cold preventive. And, did you see Sharron's link to the Mercola website to put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ears to ward off a cold?

I'll have to pick up some Echinacea tincture next time I'm shopping for herbs. Let us know how it goes.

Ooh, this post is so long already, but I have to share my latest herbal adventure. I was reading on SW's website that one can tincture Stevia herb! I just happen to have a lovely potted Stevia. A friend bought the plant for me at an herb show in the spring and I have been tending it all summer. I had planned to dry it and experiment with making S tea and trying to use it in cooking. But, I can get dried S at the herb shop, so I am going to try tincturing my Stevia. Fresh plant material is needed for both tinctures and infused oils, so growing your own or picking wild plants is the only way to make it yourself.

I never bought spirits before in my life - I'm just not a drinker. The kids found the presence of the vodka bottle in our kitchen to be very interesting. That was a teachable moment - they now know all about tinctures and solvents!

Good night all, hope you're feeling better soon, Barb

Alice

Alice, how utterly fascinating!!!! LOL @ kids and the vodka bottle and the teachable moment!!!!! I used to drive my kids nuts with "teachable moments" but they look back now and say, "Mom, you are so smart, you should go on Jeopardy!!!!" LOL Consequently, I think my girls have a wide knowledge base.............very gratifiying.

I too slap a fresh aloe leaf directly on burns and tape it down. Works miracles. I have never thought to use SJW in conjunction with the aloe for burns. I'll stash that away in my mental, herbal first aid archives. I always packed SJW capsules in my first aid kit though, when we went on any kind of trips with the kids.

Interesting about yarrow and how the Achillea species got its name, and its uses. And it's a pretty plant too!!!!

This discussion reminds me of one time when we were up in Minnesota. The kids had been swimming and Katie developed an outer ear infection. So off I went hunting down mullein. I found 2 plants and only took the flower stalks of one of the plants. I made an infused oil concoction, strained it through a coffee filter and began putting warmed oil drops into her ear. I chickened out the next day though and took her to an immediate care place. I had JUST begun my herbal journey and wasn't confident enough in herbal rememdies to really give it a chance to work. In hindsight, I wish I had. Plus, I didn't know nearly as much then as I know now. But that was my very first experimentation with herbal remedies.

Now about my cold.................I stayed home yesterday and today. There's NO way I could work the way I am feeling (and typing this is really taxing my brain power, LOL) I did my echinacea tincture and tea all day long yesterday and thurs evening. I'm hoping that revved up my immune system to kick this out fast. It's already progressed to the congested lung stage after 2 days. I will prolly still use the tea today, just because it's so comforting. I need to raid my herbal tea box and see what else I have. I may have some peppermint tea left, if my daughter hasn't taken it all. I think I even have fluid in my middle ears, it hurts whenever I burp. At least they aren't just aching all the time. I've been sleeping a LOT and I found Progresso's Carb Monitor soups at the store, on sale for 10/$10 so I bought 10. We've been living on soup so far, since I don't feel like cooking and DH can handle heating a can of soup. (that's in his cooking skill set, LOL) I really want to go back and get some more of the soups, it's REALLY good for canned soup and of course, soup in my book has always been comfort food.

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Thank goodness for that soup! I'm sure that's a wonderful thing for you to be eating when sick, and good that dh can handle making it for you.

It's good that you've gone to the congested lung stage in only two days - sounds like you've managed to shorten the whole thing.

Interesting you mention the mullein flowers for earaches - I've just been reading about that one. Definitely on my list to make next year. I'd like to try growing my own, though that one would be fun to gather, too. Another thing the books recommend for earaches is garlic. If you're feeling up to it you can make an infused oil with garlic and use for ear drops. And if it doesn't help your ears, you can cook with it .

Last night I had a bit of a sore throat and I thought, oh, no, not a cold coming on. I sprayed my throat with the yarrow tincture, slept well and no sore throat this morning. Either the tincture worked, or it was just a fatigue thing and not a cold coming on at all. I put the tincture in a spray bottle last summer to use as an insect repellent. It's really good in that form for spraying on sore throats, or I could try it on a cut. It seems to work on bug bites, too.

I found a good herbal "recipe" book at the library yesterday. Good detailed instructions for making infusions, tinctures, infused oils, etc.

Yeah, I guess you do have my Nourishing Traditions - and maybe Protein Power Lifeplan, too? We'll have to try to have another get-together soon. If that's not convenient, you know my dh works in Lisle, so he could easily drop by your house if needed to pick up books. I let my kefir babies die ( :crying: ), so if you have some to spare, I would love to try to make kefir again. The problem was I had some dairy confusion and couldn't decide if I wanted to switch to dairy milk or stay with coconut milk. I ended up pushing the babies to the back of the refrigerator and I haven't seen 'em for months now.

I started the Stevia tincture yesterday!!! I am so excited about it. It will take 6 weeks to mature, but I have a whole pint jar going, so there will be enough to share! If this works, it looks like a year's supply could easily be made at home from just one plant.

Take care, Barb!!! Hope you're feeling better soon - I sure enjoy your "teachable moments" around here. :butterfly

Alice

Let me know when you want your books back. I haven't read much in them lately, just too dang busy, and yes, I have your Lifeplan book also.

I have a TON of dried kefir babies just for the asking. So no problemo sharing those.

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Hey, Barb,

How ya doin? I definitely put echinacea on my list to buy, and eventually to grow. I felt like "duh" when I realized it was the same plant as the purple coneflower everybody around here grows in their gardens.

Hope your cold is better. Every time I feel a bit of sore throat starting I spray away with the yarrow, and so far I'm ok.

Alice

Did you guys see my thread about cold season in the Everything forum?

Sorry I've not been around much, just been really busy

No, I'll check it out. Thanks Sharron!!!

WELL, I was sicker than a dog (whatever THAT means) on friday and saturday and lo and behold, on sunday started feeling better. I thought this would go into my chest and get bad, but so far just a little tickly in the bronchial tube and a teeny bit phlegmy, and a little cough, but other than that, MUCH better!!!! Although, last night I had a killer sinus headache. I took one excedrin and it helped with the pain, but kept me tossing and turning all night. (dang caffein!!!!) I think the echinacea did the trick. Alice if you want some purple coneflower, I have a TON in my front yard. You prolly noticed it at the party. I have to cull them out since they're growing profusely in my path. Not sure when the best time to transplant them would be, spring or fall, but you're very welcome to some!!!!

I haven't tried making my own infusions with the roots yet..........one of these days. *sigh*

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Hmmmmmm, I can't find your thread, Sharron

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What do you do with cone flower plants to use them medicinally? I put in a single plant this year and scattered the seeds, hoping it will reseed and naturalize. But, I really don't know a thing about coneflowers, otherwise.

I've used echinacea in liquid or pill form during the winter for years, and it seems to be quite effective at preventing colds. I don't use it all the time. I'll take it for a while at the start of the flu season. Then, I'll start taking it again whenever someone around me shows up with a cold (doncha just want to strangle people who come to work when they're obvisouly sick with something catching?). Or, if I detect a tickle or slight scratch in my throat, I'll start popping it for a couple of days, along with sucking on some zinc lozenges. Often, that works to stop the cold altogether or keep it from developing into a doozy.

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~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Hi Teel!!

The important part of the plant is the root. So I would suppose you could make a tincture or tea with it. I've never experimented yet with it, but do intend to. I have a bumper crop. LOL, ONE plant will turn into many. It might take a couple years, but fear not, it WILL naturalize. I think it works with Echinacea purpurea as well as with E. alba (white kind--I think that's it's botanical name.)

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Hi all, and welcome teelbee,

I am still researching echinacea home preparations. According to one of my books, all parts of the plant have value, in both water (tea or infusion) and alcohol (tincture) solutions. The one herbalist (Rosemary Gladstar) even nibbles on the buds fresh in the garden!

(I know you all are smart enough not to do this because I told you I read it in a book, right?)

I am going to buy some dried echinacea - both leaves and roots, if they have them - and ready-made echinacea tincture at the store and see how to work with them, then think about growing and making my own, meanwhile reading more about it.

A water solution of roots should be boiled awhile, not just steeped like a tea or infusion. It's called a decoction, and the same technique is used for barks. The idea is that roots and barks are harder than leaves and it takes more heat to extract the wanted elements.

Barb - next spring I would LOVE to have some of your echinacea offspring.

One little tidbit - roots from perennial plants for medicinal purposes should be at least three years old, and it's best to gather them after the first frost.

This really fits my idea of a great herbal remedy - good for a common problem, grows readily around here, and lots of people use it successfully.

Glad you're on the mend, Barb!

Sharron - is the cold thread you're talking about the one about Mercola and the hydrogen peroxide drops in the ears? I tried that once, seemed to work well for me.

Alice

yes, that is the one, Alice. I've used essential oils (TTO and OO) instead -- just put a drop on my pinky, rub my pinkies together and stuck them in my ears. OO burned, but it worked. I'd rather do the TTO, it is soothing.