How to Make a Tincture Herbal Extract at Home

Herbal remedies such as herbal tinctures are centuries-old natural cures dating back to prehistoric times. A tincture is a potent herbal extract that is derived from medicinal herbs. According to Australasian College of Health Sciences, a single teaspoon of tincture has the equivalent medicinal potency of one cup of an herbal tea infusion. You can learn how to make a tincture at home inexpensively in a few steps.

Instruction:

1. Clean and sort through your herbs, discarding any yellow or moldy parts. Joyce A. Wardwell, in her book "The Herbal Home Remedy Book," suggests chopping up the herb, which helps promote extraction of the herbs medicinal properties by opening up the plant cell walls.

2. Fill up 2/3 of the glass jar with the chopped herbs. Pour in the alcohol, filling it up almost all the way to the brim, leaving about 1 inch at the top for headroom.

3. Stir the contents of the jar mix the herbs and alcohol thoroughly. This also helps to release any trapped air bubbles, which tend to cause spoilage.

Herbal Medicine: How to Make an Herbal Lozenge

Herbal lozenges can be made at home and used just like a cough drop. They can treat an irritated sore throat or a cough. You will feel better knowing exactly what natural ingredients are in your own homemade herbal lozenges.

Instruction:

1. Prepare a 1/2 cup of herbal tea from any herb of your choice. Place it in a glass bowl.

   Herbal teas are called decoctions or infusions. Decoctions are made from the bark, root, rhizome or woody parts of herbs. Infusions are generally made from the areal parts of herbs, including the leaves, flowers and stems.

2. Add to the bowl, 1 cup of marshmallow root powder. Stir into a paste.

Herbal Medicine: How to Make an Herbal Compress

Herbal compresses are used externally to treat rashes, headaches, bug bites, bruises, fever, and many other ailments. Herbal compresses are made by soaking a clean cotton cloth in an herbal tea and applying it to the affected area of the skin. Compresses are used with both hot and cold teas depending on the specific ailment.

Instructions:

1. Make an herbal tea, also called an infusion or decoction, by steeping 1 teaspoon of fresh herb or 1/4 teaspoon dried herb in 1 cup of boiling water for 15 minutes.

2. After the herbal tea has steeped for 15 minutes, you can use it warm for a warm herbal compress or allow it to continue to cool for a cool compress.

Herbal Medicine: How to Make Herbal Skin Cream

Herbal creams can be made and used for skin care, first aid, bites & stings, and fungal infections. Preparing your own herbal creams at home can be fun and it is another great use for those herbs in your garden. If you don't grow your own herbs, you can purchase dried herbs at any health food store.

Instructions:

1. You will need 1 cup of oil infused with herbs. Consult the resource section below for the instructions. Infusing oil with herbs takes approximately 10 days.

2. Melt 1/2 cup of cocoa butter and allow it to cool. The cocoa butter should be as cool as possible without becoming solid.

3. Place the cup of infused oil in a chilled mixing bowl along with the cocoa butter.

4. Mix the ingredients on high speed.

Herbal Medicine: How to Make Your Own Herbal Salad Oil

You can make herbal oils from your own homegrown herbs. These oils can be used in cooking or as salad dressing. Some of the best herbs to use for flavoring oil include basil, chives, coriander, dill, fennel, lemon verbena, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme

Instructions:

1. Place the herb in a sterile glass bottle.

2. Cover the herb completely with extra virgin olive oil.

3. The oil can be warmed if desired to speed the extraction of the flavors from the herb, but it is not required.