How To Make Echinacea Tincture

This is me and my dear friend – medical herbalist, Ali Sutherland – making our annual supply of Echinacea tincture. An essential in both our homes first aid kit for preventing colds, hay fever and infections.

A tincture – for those who are unsure, is a herb steeped in alcohol to extract the healing properties. They’re really easy to make, and extra potent, I reckon, when the herbs have been grown by you.

Gather the ingredients

Here’s what you need

• a bowl
• sharp, clean secateurs or strong kitchen scissors
• a clean 500ml/ 1 litre preserving jar with air tight, plastic lid
• 1 litre of good quality, preferably organic, vodka or food grade alcohol, with the highest alcohol % you can find. The higher the percentage the more stable and long lasting the tincture will be.
• a chopstick
• a good friend

Start by harvesting your echinacea

Harvest your echinacea on a dry day. Plan to make the tincture the day you harvest – if it sits around it dries rock hard and is really hard to cut up!

Select a good sized clump of Echinacea “Purpurea” that’s older than 2 years and in peak bloom ie: leaves and flowers are looking lush and vibrant.

Using a sharp spade, slice off a section of the clump that has a couple of flowers and a goodly bit of root. You don’t need loads! I used to make 1 litre when all the kids were home – a tribe of 6, and always had lots to give away.

Before you remove the sliced off section, slide a fork in to loosen the roots – it’s good to get as much root as you can.

After you’ve pulled the sliced off bit out, bed the remaining plant back in nice and firmly, re-mulch it and say thankyou!

Dust off the dirt from the roots, then give it a good rinse to remove the rest. If the roots are muddy, soak them in some water first and swirl them round to loosen the dirt.

Make the tincture

Chop the roots, stalks, leaves and flowers as finely as possible into a bowl. The finer they are the more potent the brew. Discard any brown or damaged foliage/ flowers into the compost.

Label your jar and date it, then spoon the chopped herb in and pour the alcohol over. You want it to just cover the herb. Give the jar a gentle shake to mix it together.

Slide a wooden chopstick down the sides to release any air bubbles, then press the plant matter beneath the alcohol. Top up the vodka if needs be, but bear in mind – the less alcohol the stronger the tincture.

Stash the jar our of reach of curious kids, away from direct light but somewhere near by where you can easily keep an eye on it. For the first few weeks it needs a gentle shake every other day and if the plant matter becomes exposed – a top up of alcohol.

Leave to brew for a minimum of 6 weeks. Test a drop on your tongue to see if its ready – a good tingle lets you know. If not, leave it a little longer.

Bottle + store

Strain into glass jug or bowl, through a muslin lined sieve and press out as much liquid as possible.

Pour the strained tincture into labelled + dated, clean, dark coloured glass bottles.

Store in cool dark place for 2-3 years.

How to use echinacea tincture

Echinacea is a prime herb for the early treatment and prevention of all types of infection. It stimulates the body’s immune defense mechanisms via immune cell activation and has direct anti-microbial action. The most common use for Echinacea is to prevent and treat the common cold.

Acute infection: When used at high frequency during a cold it can reduce symptoms and duration quite remarkably.

• Adult: 5ml in a little water, every 2 hours on day 1. Reduce to 4 – 5 times daily until improvement is notable then reduce to 3 times daily until fully well.
• Child: 1 – 3.5ml in water or juice, at the same frequency as above

Chronic (ongoing) or Preventative If you are prone to recurring infections of the respiratory tract such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis and ear infections, a preventative daily dose leading into the winter season is a sound idea. The same preventative approach works for those who suffer hay fever and seasonal allergies. Start a daily dose 6 weeks prior to allergy season.

• Adult: 5ml, 1 to 2 times daily
• Child:1-3.5ml, 1 to 2 times daily or I would put 5 or so drops into their drink bottle if the first signs of a cold was stirring.

Use these doses as a starting point – if you experience excessive tingling or watering of mouth, reduce the dose by half until you find your happy place.

Precautions

• People with auto-immune conditions should not use Echinacea.
• Those who have allergies to the Daisy family (Asteraceae) should be cautious or avoid use.
• Occasional cases of gastro disturbance have been reported.

Ali Sutherland is a Medical Herbalist. Bringing the healing energies of plants to others is her greatest passion. Her long working history in Pharmacy brings the benefit of plant/drug interaction knowledge.

Nature’s Nest is her range of home grown herbal products that are made in the healing cottage and medicinal herb garden at her property in the Otaki Gorge where she also provides personal health consultations and retreats.

Find her at ali@naturesnest.co.nz.