Tinctures have now been making the rounds of beauty and health websites and stores and could be considered the next “in” thing. But what exactly are tinctures, and what makes them so special than other types of products?
Here are a few important and interesting facts about tinctures which you may not have known before.
A tincture is a super potent liquid extract
It is the final product when an herb is steeped in a food-grade alcohol and water mixture. That is essentially the summary of what a tincture is. However, the process of making a tincture is much more complicated, and you should not try this at home in any way.
A herb or plant is put in an alcohol-water solution, agitating it every day. This solution is then pressed after a few weeks or months, depending on how concentrated you want it to be. The alcohol that’s left at the end of the process is a very concentrated dosage of that plant.
This maceration process typically starts with a dry herb, with the alcohol used to keep any bacteria from growing during the process. The end product is a super potent herbal concoction.
The tincture herbal extraction method even purifies toxins from the herb, extracting the useful active ingredients without destroying the herb in its natural state. This allows consumers to absorb all the beneficial ingredients of the herb.
Some tinctures can be consumed
The process in which tinctures are made usually incorporate food-grade alcohol in it. This means that some tinctures can be ingested without any harmful effects. You need to check the labels carefully of each tincture though, as to whether it would be safe for consumption or not should be clearly stated on the label.
The usual consumption of such tinctures would be three times a day, after each meal. There are also those tinctures which should be taken twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.
Most tinctures are odourless
Some tinctures which are used for medication, such as cannabis or CBD tincture, come from herbs or plants which are smoked in their natural form. This would often generate a strong smell in enclosed spaces that would stick to one’s fingers, clothes, and upholstery.
If you need a discreet method of medicating, tinctures could be the answer you’re looking for. You won’t even have to worry about finding a place to take them, because all you need is a few drops under your tongue, and that’s it - you’re good to go.
Tinctures are used for beauty and cosmetic products
Tinctures are also sometimes used in the creation of beauty and cosmetic products. Antioxidant skin products are an example wherein tinctures are used, and often start with a tincture coming from an herb with many antioxidants and anti-aging features present.
The herb undergoes the same maceration process in creating the tincture, but the difference now is that all the alcohol would be burned off in the final product. This is because alcohol is drying to the skin and would have some negative properties if overly applied. Once all the alcohol is removed from the final product, what is left can be easily absorbed by the skin.
Proper storage is important for tinctures
Some tinctures are sensitive to light, and exposure to either light or heat could deteriorate or lessen the effects these tinctures may have. Tinctures should always be stored in airtight, dark containers such as dark coloured jars or bottles. They should be placed far from any heat source, and in cool temperature environments.
Plastic containers should be avoided because plastic and the alcohol found in tinctures such as ethanol don’t go well together. Glass dropper bottles are a common favourite storage option for tinctures as these are often
dark-coloured, non-reactive to alcohol, and provide a quick and easy delivery method.
You shouldn’t attempt to make tinctures on your own
With all the positive effects and properties which tinctures could bring, you could be thinking of just making one on your own. Be warned - this is not a good idea at all.
Although it is possible to make your own tinctures at home, the process is complicated and there is a high chance of failure. Accidents could also happen since you would be handling flammable materials such as alcohol. And even if you were able to come up with a final product, the process itself could be dangerous to your skin, with harmful side effects showing up days or weeks after.
A final word on tinctures
Tinctures are really an amazing method to gain the positive effects of many herbs and plants. The process of their manufacture isn’t that hard either, but there are many safety regulations to follow and could be dangerous if done hastily or in a non-professional environment. But if you follow all the guidelines associated with the use, handling, and safekeeping of tinctures, you’ll see that these are indeed worth every penny you pay for them.
Here at Superfoods Australia, we have a variety of tinctures you can easily add to your diet. Check out our pine pollen, shilajit, siberian chaga, lion's mane, and lemon myrtle tinctures. Each of our products has been carefully sourced only from the finest producers in the world. We are proud to be offering high-quality products that can give amazing health benefits.
