Since cold and flu season is happening whether I want it to or not, I decided to make two different tinctures that I commonly use during this time of year: elderberry and echinacea.
Fill your jars 1/2 – 3/4 full with the dried herbs, then completely cover them with the vodka.
Cover tightly with a lid, and gently shake to make sure that all of the dried herbs are saturated.
Keep the jars in a cool and dark place for 4-6 weeks. Check on them from time to time and rock the jar back and forth a bit. Add more alcohol if needed to keep the herbs covered if evaporation has occurred.
After 4-6 weeks the tinctures will be dark in color and ready to strain. Place a piece of cheesecloth in a fine mesh sieve over a bowl or large jar. Pour out the contents of the tinctures.
Squeeze out as much liquid as you can from the cheesecloth. The echinacea in particular holds a lot of liquid in the dried root matter.
Notes
Adult Acute Dosage: ¼- ½ teaspoon every hour during illness.
You can also transfer the tinctures into more traditional dropper bottles using a small funnel, if that suits your fancy. It makes it easier to get the right dose that way as well.