Plantain Tincture
A plantain tincture is a homemade herbal remedy that's easy to make with just a few ingredients.
Equipment
- Pint mason jar (or any other jar with a tight-fitting lid)
- Funnel
- Cheesecloth (or fine mesh strainer)
- Adhesive label or masking tape (for labelling tincture)
Ingredients
- Plantain dried or fresh
- Neutral Spirit such as vodka*
Instructions
- Begin by filling a clean mason jar about three-quarters full with fresh plantain leaves or half-full if you're using dried plantain (dried plantain is commonly available from herbal suppliers). Fresh plantain will yield more liquid, but dried plantain may absorb some of the alcohol, reducing the final yield.
- Pour enough alcohol (vodka, brandy, whiskey, or another high-proof spirit) into the jar to completely cover the plant material. Ensure that the plantain is fully submerged, as this is key to a successful extraction.
- Close the jar tightly with its lid, then gently shake it to help mix the plant material with the alcohol. Store the jar in a cool, dry place away from direct light, and let it sit for 6 to 8 weeks.
- Every few days, give the jar a gentle shake to keep the plant material moving and ensure a consistent extraction. Check periodically to make sure the plant remains submerged; if the level of alcohol drops, simply top it up with more to maintain coverage.
- When the tincture is ready (after 6-8 weeks), set up a funnel lined with cheesecloth over a clean, dark glass bottle. Pour the contents of the jar into the funnel, pressing the plant material to extract as much liquid as possible. The cheesecloth will help filter out the plant material, leaving you with just the tincture.
- Once you've strained the tincture, make sure to label the bottle with the plant’s name, the date of production, recommended dosage, and intended uses. Store the tincture in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight to preserve its potency.
Notes
*Tinctures are usually made with vodka as a neutral spirit, but you can also use brandy, whisky or any other high-proof alcohol. Finished tinctures need to be at least 25% alcohol for preservation, and fresh herbs contribute some moisture to the mix. Be sure you use something that's 60-proof or higher.
Never use denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol to make tinctures, as it's unsafe for consumption.
To make an alcohol-free glycerite tincture (glycerite)
If you prefer an alcohol-free tincture, you can create a glycerite instead. To do this, cover the dried plant material with a mixture of 3 parts vegetable glycerin and 1 part distilled water. For fresh plantain, use pure glycerin without any water. Like an alcohol tincture, the glycerite should be shaken daily during the infusion period. Follow the same steps for straining and storing once the glycerite is ready.Yield
The final yield of your tincture will vary depending on whether you're using fresh or dried plantain. With fresh material, you’ll likely end up with a slightly larger volume of tincture than the amount of alcohol you initially added. If using dried plantain, expect to get a little less than the volume of alcohol you added, as the plant material will absorb some of it. For a quart jar, you will need approximately 2 to 3 cups of alcohol, and for a pint jar, about 1 to 1.5 cups. Always ensure that the plant material stays submerged during the infusion process to avoid oxidation or spoilage. Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!