Tinctures 101
By: Brendan Klatt
Forage Hyperfoods, a new line of tinctures we carry!
“There is no pleasure without a tincture of bitterness.”
On my health journey I am turning more and more to herbal medicines. This means ingredients I understand that are more recognizable in nature. I feel this works for me for where I am at, but also feels more foundational in terms of wellness. There is something special about be able to go out and harvest something from a forest nearby and create medicine. Of course, I don’t have the time or the expertise to do this so I end up buying everything I need! I also still take other supplements and powders and such, but my collection is slowly moving towards a more superfood, herbal, and whole foods theme.
A big component of what I would call “herbal medicine” are tinctures. Herbal tinctures have been used for thousands of years, with historical records of their use stretching back as far as ancient Greece and Egypt. Tinctures are made by soaking plant parts (e.g., leaves, flowers, roots, bark, etc…) in a solvent like alcohol or vinegar, which allows for a greater part of the whole plant to be extracted. It is believed that the solvent helps pull out active substances from the plant, resulting in a filtered extract that can be medicinal.
Alcohol is broadly thought to be the best solvent for making tinctures and extracting a wide range of plant properties. The method allows easy absorption of healing plant compounds into the bloodstream. However, liquids other than alcohol can be used as the solvent, including glycerin, vinegar and honey. The resulting liquids are not usually called tinctures but glycerites, vinegar and oxymels - which is a honey vinegar mix. The solvents also act as a preservative to help extend shelf life. Alcohol also helps the tincture absorb quickly because it can enter the bloodstream very quickly. You can even absorb the alcohol/tincture through your mouth (ex: under your tongue) although long term use of undiluted alcohol extracts under the tongue is best avoided.
Tinctures are great for adding to beverages like teas!
Tinctures are also great for mocktails or summery cold beverages too!
Tinctures contain specific ratios of water, alcohol and dissolved plant material. The water in the tincture also extracts plant compounds but is mainly used to balance the amount of alcohol included. Some parts of a plant need a great deal of alcohol (70-90%) to extract their compounds, such as resins like propolis and myrrh, and some need much less, like the polysaccharides in marshmallow root.
Most tinctures that use alcohol tend to be 25-60%. You only get a small amount of alcohol in the dropper but those wishing to avoid alcohol entirely should avoid tinctures, follow my tip below or look for those that use other solvents like vinegar or glycerin. Some sources say the amount of alcohol per dose is similar to eating an apple or a very ripe banana (about 0.4%). If there are concerns in terms of the alcohol content in general, here’s a tip - add the tincture to hot water and the alcohol content within that tincture will evaporate within a few minutes.
Doseology is another new brand, offering a variety of tinctures!
Rumina Naturals is from Calgary, enjoy these local tinctures!
Tinctures are some of the best ways to take herbs due to the lack of processing (such as converting to a powdered extract) and the fact that you can often taste the medicinal herb or mushroom. Tasting your medicine often has secondary effects as your body better knows what is coming and can prepare. For example, bitter foods are well known to increase digestion. This also holds true for superfood powders or medicinal teas. Because tinctures are concentrated it is common to mix them with a small amount of water prior to consuming. Tinctures are not designed with flavor in mind!
Prairie Doctor is another amazing brand from BC, Canada!
St. Francis Herb Farm Deep Immune is popular especially for allergies!
Common Questions Regarding Tinctures
Are tinctures safe for long term use?
This depends on the tincture and what you are using it for. Like any other vitamin or herb supplement, its best to consult with a health care provider to determine dosing and length of use. Most tinctures will have dosage and use information on the bottles.
How do herbal tinctures differ from essential oils?
The main difference is that tinctures are designed to be ingested and used medicinally, whereas essential oils are generally used topically and aromatically.
How do tinctures differ from tea?
Tinctures are much more concentrated and often have stronger medicinal effects. They also use alcohol as a solvent as opposed to boiling water. Alcohol will have extra compounds and active ingredients that are not water soluble like oils, alkaloids, and resins. Alkaloids are produced by plants as defence mechanisms (examples include caffeine, nicotine, and quinine) and resins are sappy substances produced by plants in response to injury. Tinctures tend to use the all the parts of the plants, and are “steeped” for days or weeks, not minutes like most tea is. Tea also happens to be more enjoyable to drink so there are benefits beyond the medicinal properties of the plants used.
Is more better?
Because the use of tinctures does not require a prescription, and because they are plant-based, there is a tendency for people to believe that you can "up" the dosage. Tinctures come with suggested dosages (a dropperful, or 30-40 drops, 2-3 times a day, for most), and if you have any concerns or questions about what amount is best for you, seek out the advice of a trained professional. Moderation is the key to avoiding side effects.
Why tinctures over powders or capsules?
We covered some of the why above but in addition: tinctures tend to absorb better and be more bio-available than extracts which are processed through high-heat or drying. The better a product is absorbed the more effective it is and the less you need to take. Herbal medicinal products tend to work better long term because they are more holistic and contain more supporting compounds. Another thing to note is, generally tinctures are more cost effective overall in comparison to capsules.
Amaranth carries herbal and mushroom tinctures, with the latter being very popular as tinctures are a great way to take medicinal mushrooms. Harmonic Arts is our most popular brand, but we have a number of local brands like Rumina Naturals, Prairie Doctor, St. Francis Herb Farm, Doseology or Botanica.
Note
As with any medicine, tinctures should be taken with caution. This article is intended as information and not medical advice. Before starting any treatment, it is recommended to consult with a health care professional. Tinctures are regulated in Canada by Health Canada under the NHP regulations.