Instructions for an Echinacea Tincture

• Native American Recipe

A tincture is like a really potent tea, and can be stored in little glass containers with eye droppers indefinitely. You will know an echinacea tincture is potent if a few drops cause a tingling sense on your tongue.⁽²⁰⁾

1. For echinacea root tincture, chop ½ cup of fresh root and put in a glass jar, adding 1 cup of liquid (2:1 ratio).
2. For echinacea flower tincture (fresh or dry), add fresh or dried flowers to fill a quart jar ⅔ of the way, and then top off with liquid. Some experts suggest using a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle for dried herbs to release essential oils. Hint: Whether whole or ground, you will need more dried herbs than fresh; if you don't have enough for a quart jar use a smaller one to achieve the proper herb-to-liquid ratio.
3. For alcohol tinctures, you will need to choose a food-grade — never rubbing (isopropyl) — alcohol. Choose one between 80 and 100 proof, like a vodka or brandy. But you don't need to use alcohol! You can use apple cider vinegar or glycerin instead. Hint: If using vinegar cover the top with plastic wrap to prevent corrosive rusting.
4. Store in a cool, dark area for 2-4 weeks, shaking the jar daily to mix the contents.
5. After 2-4 weeks, you can strain the liquid if you want. Using cheesecloth to strain the tincture through works well.
6. If desired, before storing tinctures you can mix the finished root and flower tinctures. This may take advantage of the synergistic health benefits whole-herb mixtures have demonstrated in clinical studies.
7. Experts recommend that tinctures be stored only in glass bottles, preferably dark glass. Hint: store in small dark bottles with eyedropper tops for easy use.

Native American Recipe

The Native American Crow people have a different recipe to create a much stronger tincture:⁽⁷⁾

• 1 quart of cleaned, chopped Echinacea angustifolia roots
• ½ cup of grain alcohol
• Water for boiling

1. Boil roots in a pot with 2 inches of water covering them for 4 hours. Add water as it evaporates.
2. Cool and add grain alcohol.
3. Store in dark-colored glass bottle for 2 weeks.
4. Strain and separate liquid into smaller dark-colored glass bottles with dropper caps.

These small bottles of tincture can be stored in a dark, cool place and remain potent for a full year.⁽⁷⁾