Tinctures & Infused Oils

I try to use as many of the herbs on the property as possible. Often, this can look like making tinctures and infused oils. Tinctures are shelf-stable herbal preparations that I make using alcohol. Infused oils are exactly what they sound like, I soak herbs in oil, typically olive oil but you can also use coconut oil or almond oil.

Step 1 – Pick your herbs.

All the herbs I use, I grow in my garden. I know where they came from and how they were grown. If we need something we dont grow, I buy local organic whenever possible. I can’t stress this enough. Make sure you are using good quality herbs.  

Some easy to access herbs for your first try could be lavendar, dandelion, or st. john’s wort.

Step 2 – Get mason jars, lids, and carrier oil.

Size is totally your choice depending on how much oil or tincure you want to make. You can use a 4 oz jar, 8 oz jar, or for my most used tinctures and oils I will use a 20 or 24 oz jar to make in bulk since they are shelf stable. For your first time, I would recommend using a 4 or 8 oz jar while you learn how you want to use it.

Step 3 – Fill jar about with 1/3 herbs. 

I will mention here that I’m using the folk remedy method, not the standardized method.

Folk method is the simplest way to convert or measure. It’s the way it was done traditionally how I still do it today. It’s literally just parts.

1 part to 1 part. Or sometimes 3 parts to 1 part. 

The part is whatever unit you are using. Tbsp. Tsp. or Cup.

Some herbalists now use the metric system or standardized method of measure and that’s fine too but I prefer to just throw it in the jar and cover it. It’s fine. 

Step 4 – LABEL your jars. I can’t stress this enough. Do not forget this step.

Always put the name of the herb, the type of carrier oil you used, the date you jarred it, and the earliest date it will be ready. Also note, any EXTERNAL use plant also. Some plants are not safe for consumption so you want to be sure you properly label when you can only use a tincture or oil topically.

I have even started writing the use for which I use it for. Headache medicine, sleep aid, allergy. It’s easier to find something when you need to.

Step 5 – Fill jars with carrier oil enough to cover the herbs.

Cap them, shake them and put them in a sunny window…or dark cupboard, depending on your preference. Shake every couple days for 4-6 weeks. 

My kitchen window often has a few jars sitting in it of some soaking herbs. I also have an entire cabinet with jars of tinctures and oils.

Step 6 – Strain

After 4-6 weeks, strain off your oil or tincture.

Discard used herbs.

Make sure to put the new date on the label.

Store in apothecary cabinet. 

Step 7 – Celebrate!

And that’s all! You’ve done it! You have made your own infused oil or tincture. This is a great step towards supporting a more natural lifestyle. As I have said before, we love to lean on FARMacy instead of Pharmacy but this is NOT a replacement for modern medicine. We just head to the apothecary cabinet before the medicine cabinet in our home 🙂