Echinacea Tincture
The classic immune-support herb. Echinacea has been used by indigenous peoples of North America for centuries, and it remains one of the most widely used herbal preparations in the world.
Yield: About 1 cup
Ingredients
- ●1/2 cup dried echinacea root (Echinacea purpurea or E. angustifolia)
- ●OR 1 cup fresh echinacea root, chopped
- ●1 cup 80-proof vodka
Method
- Place the echinacea in a clean pint jar.
- Pour the vodka over the herb, making sure it's fully submerged. Stir to release air bubbles.
- Seal tightly. Label with the date and contents.
- Store in a cool, dark place for 4-6 weeks. Shake every few days.
- Strain through cheesecloth and a fine-mesh strainer into a dark glass dropper bottle. Squeeze the cheesecloth to extract all the liquid.
- *Suggested use:** 30-60 drops (1-2 dropperfuls) in a small glass of water, 2-3 times daily at the onset of cold symptoms. Use for 7-10 days, then take a break.
Note: A quality echinacea tincture should cause a tingling sensation on your tongue — this is how you know the active compounds (alkylamides) are present. Echinacea is best used at the early stages of a cold — at the first sign of symptoms. It's traditionally used for short periods, not continuously. You can grow echinacea in most gardens — it's a beautiful purple coneflower that's also great for pollinators.
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