I recently made a glycerin tincture (properly called a glycerite) using an herbal mixture that boosts the immune system. I use this tincture at the first sign of illness, sometimes combined with colloidal silver, depending on how bad the illness is.
Use 1/2 tsp. 3-5 times a day for children. Use 1 tsp. 3-5 times a day for adults. If the sickness is bad enough, you can even give a dose every hour until improvement.
In this video, I’m making the tincture using Double E Immune Booster. You can also make it using only Echinacea.
How To Make A Glycerin Tincture
Supplies
- Double E Immune Booster or Echinacea or any dried herbs
- Jar with lid
- Vegetable Glycerin (make sure it’s food grade)
- Dried herbs
- Hot Water
- Crock Pot
- Towel
Instructions
- Fill jar halfway with dried herbs of choice.
- Pour hot water over the herbs just to the top of the herbs.
- Fill the jar the rest of the way with vegetable glycerin. Leave an inch headspace.
- Place towel in bottom of crock pot.
- Put jar on top of towel.
- Fill crock pot with water up to the shoulder of the jar.
- Turn crock pot on warm or low for 2-3 days.
- Strain herbs from liquid.
- Bottle the liquid.
I’ve read about making these before, but never took the leap and tried it. Seeing you do it makes it seem, well, so doable =) Thank you for sharing…I’m off to check out more of your site!
Amy, it is so very easy! I used to be very intimidated thinking about making my own things – I felt like I should be a professional and have some sort of training, but it is so EASY! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by – good to hear from you! 😉
Jill, I’ve had 5 pints of Double E tincture in the crock pot for about 24 hours. Last night after about 6 hours, I noticed one of the jars had juice on its top. I switched to a new lid, but the water all around the jars was colored and smelled highly of the herbs. I replaced the water around the jars this morning and although there is no obvious leakage from a particular jar, the water has become stained again.
Is this normal? Have I ruined the tincture?!? This is my first go at it. I followed the directions in the video as far as the measurements, etc. The crock was on low, then I realized this afternoon that I could change it to warm so I did that (I have a different crock that does not have a warm button). Any suggestions would be welcome. Thank you so much!!
No I don’t think you’ve ruined your tincture. The water in my crockpot always turns a light brown when I make tinctures, though I assumed it was coming from the crockpot itself. As long as one of your jars isn’t noticeably leaking, it should be fine. You will smell the herbs as they warm, but they shouldn’t smell like they are burnt. Congrats on your first crockpot glycerite! Keep at it! 🙂
Thank you so much for the speedy response & encouragement 🙂
Anytime! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
It’s me again, Jill 😉 The tincture turned out well: 5 pints yielded 1 qt & a 1/2 pint…and 2 children now have a runny nose/cough so we have reason to use it. My question today is about dosing. I understood at the end of the video that you recommend 1/2 teaspoon for children and 1 teaspoon for adults daily (when sick). The sickies have been getting Vit C, elderberry syrup, colloidal silver, and garlic salve 3-5 times daily. Now I’ve added in the tincture at 1/2 teaspoon a few times a day. But I guess it needs to be administered just once daily??
Also, in Be Your Own Doctor/Pediatrician, Rachel suggests using dropper doses for tinctures. When I measure out a dropper’s worth, it is about 1/8 teaspoon, so I used 4 droppers full…just want to make sure that’s alright as that is 4 times her suggestion.
Thanks so much for bearing with me; we are new to herbs and doctoring at home, but we feel led to do this for our family. And you have been a true blessing!!
I’m not just “bearing with you” at all – I welcome and appreciate all questions! 🙂 The Double E could actually be administered hourly if needed. When some of my girls have been really sick, I have given silver, elderberry, and Double E hourly, along with large doses of vitamin C and garlic salve, etc. It just depends on how sick a person is, which is where a mom’s intuition kicks in. I actually seldom measure when giving the tinctures. The measurements are only suggestions in most cases and can usually be given in larger doses if desired. Plus, droppers are different sizes depending on how many ounces the bottle is. I sometimes use a dropper, but many times I just pour the medicine on a spoon and give it. With echinacea, it’s best not to use it for more than 2 weeks at a time, in case you don’t know.
Feel free to ask away if you need any more help. I’m so glad your tincture turned out well!
Hello,
What would the measurements be for a half gallon glycerin tincture? With dry herbs
Water
Glycerin and
herbs..
Good day! You follow the same instructions as listed above no matter what size jar you’re using.
Fill jar halfway with dried herbs of choice.
Pour hot water over the herbs just to the top of the herbs.
Fill the jar the rest of the way with vegetable glycerin. Leave an inch headspace.