Tinctures, Teas, Syrups, & Capsules Oh My!

When you begin to dip your toe into herbal healing it can be overwhelming. There are countless herbs that can be used in endless ways, there is a whole new language to learn (scientific plant names and herbal action words), and then there are the many different ways you can use plant medicine. It is enough to make your head swim or scare you back to relying on laboratory create treatments. Do not fear, with a little time you can make your way in this new and thrilling world and I would love to help demystify it for you. Identifying which herbs would be beneficial to add into your diet is the first step, but how should you use them? Herbal Tea? Herbal Tinctures? Herbal Syrups and Honeys? Herbal Vinegars? Capsules? Just eat them? Well, the answer depends on a lot of variables- What aspect of the herb are you hoping to get benefits from? What works for your schedule and lifestyle? Which method is safe for you? Lets go through your options and help you find the right fit for your needs!

Tinctures

Tinctures are well loved by herbalist but can be intimidating at first. How does it work? What dosage? When? From where? A tincture is created when an herb (or herbs) are soaked in an alcohol solution for typically 4-6 weeks and then the plant material is strained out. There are a lot of great benefits to tincture use. Tinctures are easily portable in small glass vials thus making them an easy treatment to take with you wherever your day takes you. Tinctures are easy to use, you can add a few drops to a glass of water or simply drop them directly into your mouth. Tinctures have a very long shelf life, we are talking YEARS, as long as they are kept in a well sealed glass container out of sunlight. Tinctures are great to use when you want to get resins and essential oils from your herbs. Additionally, for bitter tasting herbs it is often easier to take a few quick dropper-fulls than to stomach drinking a cup of tea.

Teas

Herbal Teas are my personal favorite herbal medicine. They are one of the oldest and simplest forms of healing, they are accessible to everyone, they are safe (depending on ingredients) for the whole family, not to mention they are delicious. There are two types of tea making to consider when making an herbal tea. An infusion is when you soak light plant material (leaves, flowers, buds) in hot water for 5-20 minutes. A decoction is when you simmer heavier plant material (bark and roots) for 20 minutes minimum. Herbal teas are the perfect vehicle to deliver minerals, medicinal qualities, mucilage (thick and slimy healing substance), prebiotics, and immunomodulatory herbs and mushrooms. There is also an innately healing experience found in the ritual of brewing herbal tea.

Syrups and Honeys

Kids everywhere, and kids at heart, are cheering that there is a sweet and sticky option. I really like the use of honeys and syrups when treating respiratory illnesses, sore throats, and colds. The honey itself has many healing qualities; it is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, full of antioxidants and soothing to the system. When you combine that with healing plants it is a delicious and easy way to treat yourself and your children. It is important to note that children under the age of 1 should not ingest honey. Herbal infused honeys are a wonderful addition to herbal teas to add an additional healing kick.

Herbal Vinegars

Herbal Vinegars are such a wonderful addition to your kitchen. Vinegar is a terrific tool for extracting minerals from plant material and is a great substitute to use for people who want to avoid alcohol based treatments. Herbal vinegars are a yummy addition to your kitchen and can add extra healing and nutrients to the foods you are preparing.

Capsules

Capsules are the form of herbal treatments most comparable to a western medicine approach, here take this pill. Capsules are made from powdered plant material and therefore have a relatively short shelf life. They are easy to find and most adults are comfortable with their use. Being in capsule form also makes them very portable to take with you. Taking herbs in this manner though does require more work for your body to extract the healing properties of the plants.

All in all there are no “bad” ways to incorporate herbs into your diet and healing. In fact many of these can be combined and most are quite delicious. Trust yourself and explore a few new options.

Get out there, get wild, and enjoy the journey!