Many of the studies done on herbs use an extraction of the plant. Oils are usually used externally; tinctures are for internal use (oil of oregano is actually a tincture).
Here are recipes for a tincture and peppermint oil from Gayle Engels of the American Botanical Council:
For an herb tincture
1. Pack fresh herbs into a clean glass jar with a tight lid.
2. Fill with 80-proof vodka.
3. Cover the mouth of the jar with wax paper or plastic wrap. Close the lid tightly and shake well. Keep in a dark place for four to six weeks, shaking daily.
4. Strain and keep the liquid in a glass bottle. Label with the name and date. It will keep for years in a brown glass bottle in a dark cabinet. Add 10% glycerin to make it more palatable, or you can use glycerin if you don’t want to ingest alcohol.
For peppermint oil
1. Crush or muddle fresh peppermint leaves in a glass jar with a tight lid.
2. Cover the leaves with olive or grapeseed oil. Close the jar and shake.
3. Store for three days. Strain into a bowl and discard the leaves.
4. Pack the jar with fresh leaves, pour the oil back in the jar and cover with fresh oil. Repeat until you have the desired amount.
Twenty drops of the oil should be diluted with 1.5 ounces of another oil — coconut or almond, for example — before using it topically, and with water (1 cup per five to 10 drops of oil) for mouthwash. Never put essential oils directly on your skin (they can burn).
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FAQs
Today, peppermint is promoted for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), other digestive problems, the common cold, sinus infections, headaches, and other conditions. Peppermint oil is promoted for topical use (applied to the skin) for problems like headache, muscle aches, joint pain, and itching.
How do you make a quick herbal tincture? ›
Recipe
- Gather the useful parts of the herb(s), possibly the berries, leaves, roots, bark, or all of these, and remove any unwanted parts.
- Wash and coarsely chop the herbs.
- Place them into an airtight jar.
- Pour alcohol or vinegar into the jar and seal it. For fresh herbs, use a 1-1 plant-to-alcohol ratio.
Today, peppermint is promoted for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), other digestive problems, the common cold, sinus infections, headaches, and other conditions. Peppermint oil is promoted for topical use (applied to the skin) for problems like headache, muscle aches, joint pain, and itching.
How do you make essential oil tincture? ›
To make an oil tincture, you need slightly different ingredients. Cover slightly crushed (don't crush until mushy) lavender flowers and buds with grain alcohol or vodka in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Store the jar in a dark place (like a cupboard) for two weeks, shaking daily.
What is the best oil for tinctures? ›
Coconut, MCT, or olive oil are the best oils for tinctures. Avoid alcohol-based tinctures (isopropyl alcohol, grain alcohol, etc.). Infusing cannabis into olive oil is great for adding to recipes. Infusing cannabis into coconut oil is great for applying to the skin.
How do you make a calming tincture? ›
Ingredients:
- 0.5oz chamomile flowers (by weight)
- 0.5oz lemon balm (by weight)
- 0.5oz holy basil (by weight)
- 0.5oz cinnamon (by weight)
- 100 proof vodka (50% alcohol)
There's no hard and fast rule, as it depends on each individual herb. For tinctures or other liquid extracts, such as teas, choosing fresh or dried herbs can depend on a variety of factors including availability, historical use and modern scientific research.
How long do homemade herbal tinctures last? ›
Alcohol-based tinctures have an unlimited shelf life and do not require refrigeration if stored in a cool, dark location. Tinctures that are vegetable glycerine-based do not need to be refrigerated and can last from 3-5 years. Vinegar-based tinctures are recommended to be refrigerated, and can last up to a year.
What is the most popular tincture? ›
Some of the most popular tinctures today specifically include:
- Tincture of arnica. Arnica tinctures are commonly used to treat inflammatory skin diseases like rosacea. ...
- Tincture of benzoin. ...
- Tincture of iodine. ...
- Tincture of propolis. ...
- Tincture of elderberry. ...
- Tincture of turmeric. ...
- Tincture of echinacea. ...
- Tincture of cannabis.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita), a popular flavoring for gum, toothpaste, and tea, is also used to soothe an upset stomach or to aid digestion. It has a calming and numbing effect, and is often used to treat headaches, skin irritation, nausea, diarrhea, menstrual cramps, flatulence, and anxiety associated with depression.
Common side effects include heartburn and indigestion. If you've bought peppermint oil from a pharmacy or shop, do not take it for longer than 2 weeks without checking with a doctor.
Can peppermint detox your body? ›
Peppermint Tea
Food stagnation may be a sign of overeating, which can cause disturbed sleep. Peppermint helps overcome that. As a tea, it aids the digestive process by helping your liver with its detoxification and digestive functions.
How do you make a tincture for beginners? ›
Fresh herb method
Chop the herbs up finely 100g. Add to mason jar and cover with 250ml of 50% alcohol. The water in the herbs will dilute the alcohol by around half and so it's important for preservation that the alcohol stays over 20% at least. Label the jar with the date and ingredients.
How to make peppermint tincture? ›
For peppermint oil
- Crush or muddle fresh peppermint leaves in a glass jar with a tight lid.
- Cover the leaves with olive or grapeseed oil. Close the jar and shake.
- Store for three days. Strain into a bowl and discard the leaves.
- Pack the jar with fresh leaves, pour the oil back in the jar and cover with fresh oil.
If berries are being used, a higher alcohol percentage (around 70%) will better extract the plant material. When creating tinctures, you will want to carefully measure your weight-to-volume ratio. Usually, the ratios will be between 1:2 to a 1:10. Typically, you will make tinctures that are 1:3, 1:4, or 1:5.
How do you extract pure peppermint oil? ›
For peppermint oil
- Crush or muddle fresh peppermint leaves in a glass jar with a tight lid.
- Cover the leaves with olive or grapeseed oil. Close the jar and shake.
- Store for three days. Strain into a bowl and discard the leaves.
- Pack the jar with fresh leaves, pour the oil back in the jar and cover with fresh oil.
While both tinctures and essential oils come from plants, the key difference lies in application. The main difference is that tinctures can (and are developed to) be ingested and are often used medicinally, offering a broader scope of use compared to essential oils, which are generally used topically or aromatically.
How do you make peppermint oil solution? ›
Create the Peppermint Infusion:Boil 1 cup of water and let it cool to room temperature. Add 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil to the water.
How do you dilute peppermint oil for consumption? ›
Many people use a teaspoon to measure how many essential oil drops are needed, as it holds approximately 5 ml of oil, which is about 100 drops of carrier oil. This means to dilute to 2%, you will only need to add 2 drops of peppermint oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil, which can be easily done using the dropper.
