1cupor a bit more 80 proof or higher vodka(I use potato vodka to avoid gluten. Food-grade glycerin can also be used, but the extraction process will be longer.)
Instructions
To Make The Tincture With Alcohol
Place herbs in a clean, dry pint mason jar and pour the alcohol/glycerin over them.
Cover with a lid, shake the jar and place it in a cool, dark cabinet.
Shake several times a week for 6-8 weeks, then strain the liquid with a cheesecloth. Make sure to squeeze as much liquid out of the cheesecloth as possible.
Pour the tincture in a dropper bottle, label it, and use as needed.
To Make The Tincture With Glycerin
Place herbs in a clean, dry pint mason jar. Boil some water and – while it is very hot – pour in just enough to completely cover the herbs. Add in enough glycerin to fill the jar and give the mixture a good stir.
Shake several times a week for 6-8 weeks, then strain the liquid with a cheesecloth. Make sure to squeeze as much liquid out of the cheesecloth as possible. Pour the tincture in a dropper bottle, label it, and use as needed.
For a faster method using glycerin see the instructions in this post. However, because this tincture contains roots and berries which are more difficult to extract from, increase the total extraction time to 6-8 weeks.
How To Use Your Tincture
I use 1-2 droppers full one to three times daily, depending on my stress load for the day.
Notes
This tincture uses the same adaptogenic herbs used in my Happy Adrenal Tea – eleuthero, schisandra berry, holy basil, ashwagandha, and licorice – just with different ratios for this extraction method. Because it a lot of roots and berries, which roughly double in size when placed in liquid, we’ll only be filling our jar 1/3 of the way full.Shelf Life: Store in a cool, dark cabinet. Shelf life is 5+ years for alcohol-based tinctures, and 14-24 months for glycerin-based tinctures.