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Herbs & Cultures

Herbal home remedies: tea, honey, tincture and salve

Tincture for the cold season

Five herbs in alcohol, for the cold season.

Used for

Time
Steep 2–4 weeks
Makes
One bottle
Thyme

A tincture uses alcohol to draw the active substances from herbs and keeps for a long time. This one combines thyme, echinacea, violet, peppermint and a small part of cultivated goldenseal.

Ingredients

  • 1 part thyme leaf
  • 1 part echinacea
  • 1 part violet leaf
  • 1 part peppermint leaf
  • 1 part goldenseal (cultivated)
  • 40% alcohol (see the method)

Step by step

  1. For fresh herb use 1 part herb to 2 parts alcohol (40%), for dried herb 1 part to 5 parts.
  2. Clean fresh herbs, remove damaged parts and chop them finely.
  3. Put the herbs in a clean jar, leave about 2.5 cm of space and pour the alcohol over them until everything is covered.
  4. Close, shake, label with the date and leave to steep in a dark, cool place for 2 weeks to a month; shake now and then.
  5. Strain through cheesecloth, wring out well and pour into a dark dropper bottle with a label.
  6. Take 3–8 drops, 2–8 times a day until the complaints fade, diluted in water, tea or juice if you like.

Tips

  • Fresh herbs contain water, so the finished tincture holds less than 40% alcohol. Below about 20% a tincture keeps less well.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 98

    Thyme

    Thymus vulgaris

    Traditionally used for coughs and bronchitis; thymol from the oil inhibits bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There are some studies of thyme-based cough syrups.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 14

    Echinacea

    Echinacea purpurea

    Studied for colds and respiratory infections. It may slightly reduce the chance of catching a cold; effects on duration and other conditions are uncertain.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 211

    Sweet violet

    Viola odorata

    Traditionally attributed effects: V. odorata anti-inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, antitumour; V. tricolor expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antirheumatic, laxative, strengthens capillaries.

    Western herbal medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 3

    Mint

    Mentha × piperita

    Peppermint oil has been studied in irritable bowel syndrome and may reduce abdominal pain. The tea is used for a full stomach and nausea. With heartburn peppermint can make complaints worse.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 34

    Goldenseal

    Hydrastis canadensis

    There is not enough evidence to determine whether goldenseal helps any health condition.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+6Folklore

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

These traditions know the herbs in this recipe.