Making homemade tinctures with the stems of plants follows virtually the same method as when you use the leaves of these herbs or flowers. The difference is in the processing. Some stems will be very tough and woody and will need to be chopped or blended for the solvent to thoroughly extract the properties of the stems. The best method is to use a blender, but finely chopping with a knife will work as well.
Instructions
1. Place one cup of stems in the blender and add two cups of vodka. Some people prefer to use brandy for tincture-making, which is fine. Glycerin can be used if alcohol is not available.
2. Pulse the blender to chop up the stems. The stems do not need to be ground into dust--just give them a few pulses so that they float in the alcohol. The idea is to break down the plant material so it is more easily absorbed by the solvent.
3. Pour the blended material into the Mason jar. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 using the the remaining stems and vodka. Add the second batch of blended material to the Mason jar.
4. Cap the jar with a tight-fitting lid and give the mixture a shake. Once the plant material has settled, look to see that all the stems are covered by the solvent. Material that is not submerged can rot during the tincturing process.
5. Store the tincture in a cool, dark area for three to four weeks. The longer the tincture sits, the stronger it will be. It can sit for several more weeks if you like. Alcohol is a preservative--the plant material will not go bad in this solution.
6. Check on the tincture at least once every two days to make sure the plant material is still submerged in the alcohol. Shake the tincture to prevent settling.
7. Remove the jar from storage after the designated time and prepare to make the tincture.
8. Drape a piece of cheesecloth over a colander or strainer that is sitting over a pot.
9. Drain the tincture from the jar into the cheesecloth, letting the liquid run into the pot underneath. Pull up the sides of the cloth around the stems and make a bundle.
10. Squeeze as much liquid as you can out of the material.
11. Pour the resulting tincture into the amber colored bottle. You will want to use a funnel for this purpose so you don't lose any of your tincture. Label the bottle with the name of the herb used and store it in a cool, dry location. Tinctures do not need to be refrigerated.
Tags: plant material, blended material