A tincture made of echinacea (commonly known as purple coneflower) is often used in herbal medicines. Echinacea is popularly believed to be an immunostimulator, stimulating the body’s immune system and warding off infections. It’s great to have on hand for cold and flu season. Time to put some up for a rainy (sneezy) day!
How to make Echinacea Tincture:
Echinacea root (purple coneflower root)
100 proof vodka (I used 151 proof Everclear)
Cheese cloth
Glass Jar
Take root and cover with vodka. Sit in a cool dark place and shake DAILY for SIX weeks.
After six weeks strain through cheese cloth.
Squeeze all of the liquid out of the cheese cloth and discard the used echinacea root.
Bottle in sterilized jars/containers.
Now you’re ready for the cold and flu season! If you don’t drink alcohol, just put a couple of teaspoons into a cup of hot tea and the alcohol will evaporate.
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Tori says:
How much Echinacea did you use?
On October 26, 2012 at 10:38 am
Darlene in North GA says:
Thanks for sharing this!
On October 26, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Sharon says:
Hi Tori, This was a large batch that I made to last the entire winter for a household of four.
I used a pound of root and almost that entire bottle of Everclear.
You can make the batch any size you want, just be sure to cover the root with the Vodka or Everclear.
On October 26, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Darlene in North GA says:
How much of this do you use per dose per age/weight? 1 Tsp, 1 Tbs? How to you administer it? How often? And how long can you take it before needing to go off of it so that it remains effective in your system?
Thanks!
On October 26, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Crystal says:
here is how I make mine
also a little trick I learned a few years ago when you go to extract the plant matter use a French Press makes it fast and easy :))
Fight Infections with Three Powerful Herbs
by Susun S. Weed
Author and voice of the Wise Woman Way
Wise women through the centuries have kept themselves and their families safe from contagious diseases. We looked at the lung strengthening properties of mullein and whole milk in part one of this article. In this part, we will learn how to use herbs to fight infections.
If we are actively dealing with infection, especially lung infections, these three powerful roots stand ready to help us: elecampane, echinacea, and poke.
Elecampane (Inula helenium) is a beautiful sunflower-like perennial found in wet pastures or easily cultivated in a sunny garden spot. The roots are dug in the fall after the plants are established (at least three years) and tinctured in 100 proof vodka for six weeks. Do not use elecampane in capsules.
I find elecampane root amazingly powerful in clearing all infections from the lungs. The usual dose is 10-15 drops several times a day, but I would increase the dose and take it as much as 6 times a day in an acute situation. I expect to see results from using elecampane within a day or less.
I would only take elecampane if I had an active infection. It has little protective value. To protect the lungs, use mullein and organic whole milk.
Echinacea (Echinacea augustifolia) is a well-known anti-infective. Like elecampane, it is not considered safe to take echinacea as a preventative. It is reserved for time when there is active infection.
Echinacea root tincture is a powerful ally to the white blood cells, helping them enormously in their efforts to counter bacterial infections. I have personally seen it clear infections that even triple antibiotic therapies had left untouched, including bacterial pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, strep throat, mastitis, and blood poisoning. I have had no occasion to work with someone with SARS, but I have no doubt but that echinacea would be helpful. I have interfaced echinacea with antibacterial drugs and antibiotics with excellent results. Echinacea also works marvelously well in combination with elecampane root or with poke root. I have never used the three of them together.
A dose of echinacea root tincture is 1 drop for every 2 pounds of body weight. I take it as frequently as every hour or two in the acute phase of an infection, and increase the time between doses slowly until they are eight hours apart.
Because I use such a large dose of echinacea root tincture, I get spectacular results. But to be able to use so much, you need to have a lot of the tincture on hand. It is expensive to buy, running $8-10 per ounce. Large bottles of 4-8 ounces bring the price down to $6-8 an ounce. But you can make your own for $1-2 dollars an ounce.
To make a quart of echinacea root tincture:
1. Buy 4 ounces of dried Echinacea augustifolia root. Be sure to get this kind.
2. Put it in a quart jar and fill the jar to the top with 100 proof vodka. Be sure to get this proof even though it is more expensive than regular vodka.
3. Cap tightly and label.
4. Shake daily for the first week, then weekly for at least eight weeks. I like to let mine sit for a year before I use it, but you can use it after six weeks if necessary.
as for dose I use echinacea for infection most often is 1 drop for every 2 pounds of body weight. taken as frequently as every hour or two in the acute phase of an infection, and then I increase the time between doses slowly until they are eight hours apart.
On October 26, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Crystal says:
haha as you see I study Susan Weed and I only meant to give you the info on the Enhinacea sorry for the other stuff
On October 26, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Darlene in North GA says:
THANK YOU!!!
A couple of weeks ago, I had a friend teach an herbal class in our Relief Society meeting (women’s meeting at church). She made and brought in for each of us, a sample of Comfrey/Goldenseal salve. I’ve been using it on a spot on my face that had grown to about a fingertip in length. It’s disappearing. (Dermatologist looked at it years ago and said it was nothing serious.)It’s now only about the size of my pinky nail. Also, the wart that came up a couple of months ago on the side of a finger and under the nail has died and came off yesterday. And I’ve had no side effects – no damage to surrounding tissue, bleeding, etc. Great stuff, herbs!
On October 27, 2012 at 4:23 am
Sharon says:
Hi Darlene, Hubby was getting sick and I gave him 1 ounce mixed with 4 ounces of Pineapple juice. When I take it – I mix about an ounce in a cup of hot tea –I just take until I;m feeling like myself again- usually only a couple of days. I don’t know if I’d give it to kids — for me, I’d have to really do more research before I gave it to children.
You are right, herbs are great stuff! I’ve been making my own salves and tinctures for awhile now.
I also make my own deodorant, tooth powder, shampoo bars, ect. I’m really trying to get away from the commercial chemicals and I’ve got to tell you, I’m loving the shampoo bars, my hair has never looked healthier!
On October 27, 2012 at 9:57 am
citalk2much says:
I use Echinacea Tincture on my children if you so not like the idea of giving them in base you can also make it in vegetable glycerin it is made the same way 🙂 I feel it is such a small amount I don’t worry about it
On October 27, 2012 at 11:35 am
Darlene in North GA says:
I’ve been “No-poo” for about 3 years now. Just baking soda to wash my thigh-length hair and ACV to rinse it.
I also use 92% alcohol for deodorant for the last 2 or so years. I just put it into a small spray bottle that I got from Wallyworld for $1.
I haven’t made soap in a couple of years but I need to make some more. I have all the ingredients, it’s just a “round tuit” thing.
Thanks for the advice!
On October 27, 2012 at 4:47 pm
kkfinger says:
I am wondering where you are able to find your alcohol for making tinctures. I can only find 80 proof and am interested in making other tinctures, but prefer at least 100 proof.
On October 28, 2012 at 6:42 am
gmaphiphi says:
I am so inspired by all of you, I have never made anything like this and would love to learn. Where do I find the things like the roots to start making my salves and tinctures. or..how to do my soaps & shampoos. My Great Grandmother used to make her own lye soap & I thought that was awesome, she had the most beautiful complexion & the cleanest clothes. I’m open to any help to get back to nature.
On October 29, 2012 at 10:30 am
citalk2much says:
here is my fav place to buy herbs http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
On October 29, 2012 at 12:29 pm