The benefits of tinctures, and how we take ours.

Tinctures are any herb macerated in alcohol to extract their health supporting constituents. Alcohol allows the most effective extraction of plant properties while preserving the herbal preparation much longer than water-extraction methods.

While utilized for many purposes, tinctures are most often offered to support, nourish, and/or balance various aspects of our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Our tincture blends combine a variety of herbs to support your everyday needs. From building immunity to supporting your nervous system during moments of acute stress, tinctures offer a convenient, accessible, and unique way to integrate the health supporting power of herbs into your daily rituals. They travel well, dispense easily, and often provide a unique and enlivening flavor to bring you back to your senses when needed!

Why use tinctures over powders or capsules? 

We prefer tinctures because they are easier to absorb and more bio-available than extracts which are processed through high-heat drying. We want our products to be as effective as possible. The effectiveness of any extract is the outcome of how much your body absorbs, not how much you take.

How do you take a tincture?

Herbalists have widely different ideas about dosage, but most herbalists agree that the more the herb is in your system, the better, which is why we recommend:

~ small doses here and there throughout the day ~

Starting small helps you find the sweet spot for your body. Some people need more, some need less. Taking tinctures many times throughout the day also gives you more opportunities to 'check in' with your body, remembering the reason you are taking these herbs, and bringing awareness to your wellness journey.

It can be a meditation, a moment to take a pause, to set an intention, or to pray.

For most tonic herbs, we tend to take around 5-15 drops (~1 dropperful) 3-5 times a day.

Other things to keep in mind

• most people can take their tincture on an empty stomach, although if you're feeling a little digestive discomfort, make sure to eat a little food with your tincture.
• one full "squeeze" of the dropper counts as a "dropperful" – even if the glass pipette doesn't fill up all the way, this is considered a "dropperful"
  • See Standard Herb Doses for more information on dosages
• while many people take their tinctures right on or under the tongue (as I did for many years), I recently learned that regular contact of alcoholic extracts can cause issues over longer periods of time. So my new rule is, if I'm taking a tincture a tonic tincture daily for long periods of time, I will dilute it in a little water, or just put a larger dose in a jar of water I plan on drinking throughout the day – if i'm just taking a quick squeeze in the moment (as in a quick dropperful of ginseng during a long hike, or a dropperful of bitters before a big meal), I feel comfortable taking the tincture right on the tongue
• if you do plan on diluting, try a dropperful or two in a little water, bubbly water, tea, or coffee – or put a larger dose in a quart jar of water and sip throughout the day

Tinctures come in many forms. At First Curve Apothecary, we offer Tincture Blends, Bitters, and Mushroom Extracts. Give them a try for a month or two and let us know how they are supporting you on your health journey!

If you want to learn how to make your own tinctures, check out this post: How to Make Herbal Tinctures.

With infinite dropperfuls of love,

Alex