🌿 How to Make Your First Herbal Tincture

By 3 Crows Apothecary

Long before medicine cabinets and plastic bottles, our ancestors turned to the plants — not out of desperation, but out of deep trust. They knew that the earth held everything needed to heal.

The art of tincture-making is one of the oldest and most powerful ways to preserve that healing magic. And while it may sound complicated, it’s actually one of the simplest, most empowering herbal practices you can learn.

At 3 Crows Apothecary, we believe in bringing herbal healing back to its roots — simple, natural, and made with intention. So brew a cup of tea, light a candle, and let’s walk through this ancient craft together.

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🌿 What Is a Tincture?

A tincture is a concentrated herbal extract made by soaking plant material in alcohol or another solvent (like glycerin or vinegar).

The solvent draws out the plant’s medicinal properties, preserving them for long-term use. A few drops of a tincture can carry the essence of an entire handful of herbs — potent, pure, and ready whenever you need it.

✨ Think of a tincture as a bottled spell — a drop of earth’s wisdom, distilled for your well-being.

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🌸 Choosing Your Herbal Ally

Start with herbs that are safe and familiar. Here are a few beautiful beginner options:

• 🌼 Chamomile – for calm and digestion

• 🌿 Lemon balm – for emotional balance and anxiety relief

• 🌾 Nettle leaf – for nourishment and vitality

• 🌺 Echinacea – for immune support

• 🌙 Lavender – for peace and sleep

✨ Let your intuition guide you. Often, the herb that calls to you is the one your body or spirit needs most.

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🧺 What You’ll Need

Creating your first tincture requires only a few simple supplies:

• A clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid (mason jars work perfectly)

• Your chosen herb (dried or fresh)

• Alcohol such as vodka or brandy (40–50% or 80–100 proof)

For a non-alcohol option, you can use vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar, though they’ll have a shorter shelf life.

• Labels (for noting the herb, date, and ratio)

• A dark glass dropper bottle for storing your finished tincture

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🌙 The Simple Process

Tincture-making follows a timeless rhythm — part science, part sacred ritual.

Step 1: Prepare the Herb

If using fresh herbs, chop them gently to expose their oils.

If using dried herbs, crush them lightly with your fingers.

Fill your jar about ½ to ¾ full with the herb.

Step 2: Add the Solvent

Pour in your chosen alcohol (or glycerin/vinegar) until the herb is completely covered. Leave a small bit of space at the top of the jar.

✨ As you pour, set your intention. Whisper a word of gratitude to the plant. “May you bring peace and healing.”

Step 3: Label & Store

Label your jar with:

• The herb’s name

• The type of solvent used

• The date started

Seal tightly and store in a cool, dark place. Shake gently once a day to help the solvent draw out the plant’s essence.

Step 4: Strain & Bottle

After 4–6 weeks, your tincture will be ready.

Strain it through cheesecloth or a fine strainer into a clean bowl.

Pour the liquid into a dark glass dropper bottle, label it again, and keep it in a cool cupboard.

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🌿 How to Use Your Tincture

Tinctures are potent, so a little goes a long way.

Start with 10–30 drops (about ½ to 1 dropperful) in water, tea, or under the tongue. Take as needed — every few hours for acute needs, or daily for long-term support.

Listen to your body. The plants will teach you what you need to know.

✨ This is not about perfection. It’s about relationship. Each batch, each drop, connects you more deeply to the healing rhythms of nature.

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🌾 Safety & Mindful Practice

Always do a little research on each herb before using it — even gentle ones can have specific cautions (like pregnancy or medication interactions).

If you’re new to herbalism, stick to well-known, gentle herbs until you feel more comfortable.

🌿 Herbalism is not about replacing modern medicine, but about remembering that nature has always been our ally.

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🔮 The Spiritual Side of Tincture Making

In many traditions, making medicine was a sacred act — not just chemistry, but communion.

Each tincture is a conversation between you and the plant.

When you chop the herbs, you honor the body.

When you pour the alcohol, you call on spirit.

When you shake the jar each day, you weave your energy into the medicine itself.

It’s a slow process — and that’s the point. In a world that moves too fast, tincture-making brings us back to rhythm, patience, and the ancient truth that healing takes time.

✨ The crow reminds us to see beyond what’s visible — to look deeper, to trust our own wisdom. The same applies to this work.

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🌙 Closing Thoughts

Making your first tincture isn’t just about crafting a remedy — it’s about remembering your power.

It’s standing in your kitchen, surrounded by the scent of herbs, realizing that you are part of something much older than yourself.

With each drop, you’re not just healing your body — you’re reconnecting with the sacred medicine that has always lived within the earth… and within you.

🖤 Here’s to simple magic, mindful hands, and the courage to begin.

— 3 Crows Apothecary