Mullein Tincture
It's easy to make your own mullein tincture. You only need two ingredients to make this healing liquid.
Equipment
Materials
- Dried mullein leaves
- Grain alcohol at least 80 proof (I like to use organic vodka) OR
- Organic apple cider vinegar if your kids will use the mullein tincture
Instructions
- Fill your jar ¾ full of dried mullein leaves.
- Pour the alcohol or vinegar over the mullein until it is completely covered.
- Seal the jar with the lid and set the mixture in a sunny spot to allow the infusion to get started quickly. (Not all tincture-makers do this, but I find it speeds up the “curing” process, so I don’t have to wait as long to use it.)
- Shake the jar every day for four-six weeks.
- When the tincture is ready, use cheesecloth to drain the tincture from the spent herbs and pour the liquid into amber glass dropper bottles. I use THESE.
Notes
- Tinctures are most often extracted in alcohol because it’s the most potent solvent. Some herbs don’t release their medicinal properties in a less powerful solvent like apple cider vinegar. Alcohol is also a fantastic preservative, so alcohol-based tinctures have a practically indefinite shelf life if you store it in a cool, dark location. There’s no need to refrigerate an alcohol-based tincture.
- If you want to use alcohol for tinctures to ensure you get the highest release of medicinal properties from the mullein but prefer a non-alcoholic product, just put the required drops of tincture into a small amount of hot water and allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes. The hot water will dissipate the alcohol content and leave only the herbal matter and water. This method is even safe for children.
- Some people prefer to take a tincture by drinking it in a small amount of water or other liquid. This is especially helpful if the burning sensation you get from placing an alcohol-based tincture under your tongue is bothersome.