MAKING EXTRACTS AND 

TINCTURES

Make your own Olive Leaf, Lavender or any Extract from Herbs, Flowers, Berries or Leaves.

Tinctures are expensive to buy and very easy to make.  

 

 The best medicines are made at home. What makes them the best is that you know what went into them from start to finish and dong it your self can save you money. 

Making a tincture is very easy but you'll need a few weeks before your first batch is ready.


Making the extract from home requires leaves or herbs that have not been treated with chemicals or pesticides.

Pick fresh olive leaves from your tree making sure there are no spots.  

Fresh picked healthy leaves are the best but if you don't have a tree you can use dried leaves too.

Chop the leaves finely and put them into a glass mason or canning jar or a jar with a lid that will not rust. Do not use plastic. 


Next, pour a good, strong grain 40 % alcohol, (Vodka works well), over the leaves, completely covering them.  Be sure they are completely covered. (Roughly 1 part leaves to 3 parts alcohol).

If you are using dried leaves you will need to add more alcohol as the dried leaves absorb more and you need to make sure they stay covered.( About 1 part leaves to 5 parts alcohol )

Now cover your cover the jar with a tight fitting non rusting lid. 

 

Shake well and put in a dark place. the leaves will need to soak for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake every other day and make sure the leaves are completely covered. The alcohol will siphon and extract the active constituents from the leaves.

Use cheesecloth or all natural non colored coffee filters to strain your extract into another glass container making sure to get every last drop by wringing the filter or cloth.  Now funnel your tincture into smaller amber bottles with dropper lids and store in a cool dark place.

You can keep and store for 3 years.  Health benefits of Olive Leaf.   


You can keep your used leaves and add them immediately to your next batch, this will make it even stronger.

You can do this with any fresh herb but make sure that chemicals or fungicides were not used.  It's best to use what comes from your own garden or a trusted source. 

The difference between tea, infusion, extract, tincture and poultice ?

Tea: Is when herbs are steeped with hot water for no more than a few minutes.. Teas are weaker medicinally than infusions and extracts.

Herbal Infusion: Infusions are herb teas steeped to medicinal strength, (8 minutes to several hours) then taken internally or used externally depending on the health problem. A general dose is usually from 2-4 cups per day

Extract:  Is when the liquid is extract from the fresh or dried herb material by steeping it in strong grain alcohol for 4 to 5 weeks. An extract is one part herb to one part alcohol.


Tincture: Combination of herbs and alcohol. A tincture is less concentrated than an extract. A tincture is more diluted with one part herb to three or more parts alcohol.

Tincture or Extract:   It depends on the extraction method which is the better product. Some extraction methods destroy some of the medicinal properties. The quality of the herb and how it is processed determine the quality of the end product. That is why you should only buy from trusted companies you have researched yourself.

Poultice: Used externally to reduce swelling, redness, rash, burns or pain . Fresh or dried herbs are ground or mashed and combined with olive oil or aloe juice and mixed to a paste and placed directly against the skin or on a cloth against the skin depending on the ingredients and the purpose.