Willow Bark Tincture
We will use the standard weight-to-volume method to create our willow bark tincture. This method gives us a more predictable and consistent product, which is helpful for dosing. We will be using the standard 1:5 ratio of dried plant parts to alcohol. Please note: the process for fresh herbs is a bit different and uses a stronger alcohol. Please read the instructions carefully.
Equipment
- a scale that measures both weight and volume (grams and ml) or a scale measuring grams and a graduated cylinder for measuring milliliters.
- coffee grinder *optional, but helpful
- a half-pint-sized glass jar with lid (not plastic)
- small container with pouring spout
- cheesecloth
- sieve
- unbleached coffee filter
- 1 or 2 of 4 oz. amber bottles with droppers *For this recipe, you will likely need only 1 of the 4 oz size and maybe one more bottle to catch any remainder.
- Small funnel *optional, but helpful
Materials
- 150 ml 100 proof vodka *50% alcohol
- 30 grams dried willow bark (not fresh) *I'll put a link below for where I buy mine.
Instructions
- Gather your supplies.
- Optional: Use a coffee grinder to grind your dried willow bark. This breaks it down further, exposing more of the herb to the alcohol. It's okay if you don't.
- Set your scale to the grams mode and weigh out 30 grams of willow bark.
- Add the willow bark to a small jar. A half-pint-sized jar should be good here.
- Take the weight of your willow bark (in grams) and multiply it by 5: 30 x 5= 150. This number is the volume of alcohol you will use in ml. You need 150 ml of alcohol.
- Now set your scale to ml mode or use a graduated cylinder to measure out 150 ml of your 100-proof vodka (or 50% alcohol).
- Add the vodka to the jar with the willow bark and seal with a lid.
- Put on a lid and shake a few times. Label (see notes for how to label).
- Let the jar sit for 4-6 weeks, shaking daily.
- Let's harvest the tincture! Line a mesh strainer with cheesecloth and place it over a bowl or container.
- Pour the contents of the jar into the lined strainer and allow the tincture to fully drain into the container.
- When the liquid is drained, gather up the corners of the cheesecloth and squeeze out any remaining liquid. Your tincture will be the color of rust.
- Now we are going to filter the tincture one more time into a clean container using an unbleached coffee filter and a clean sieve of some sort. This process should catch any extra sediment. I am using a pour-over style coffee dripper filter lined with an unbleached coffee filter as shown in the photo. You can also use a bucket-style filter and a regular sieve.
- It may take a bit for the tincture to filter this way. If needed, use a spoon to push any sediment away from the bottom or change the filter.
- Once the tincture is filtered the second time it is ready to bottle.
- Pour the tincture into an amber bottle. It is helpful to have a small funnel for this.
- Label your tincture. *Free tincture label template here. It is ready for use!
Notes
*Label both your jar and the final tincture product with the following info:
- Name of plant
- Scientific Name of the plant (some plants have similar or same names; this avoids confusion)
- Date Made
- Parts Used (fresh or dried)
- Menstruum Used (what medium was used- we used 50% alcohol today (100 proof vodka)
- Ratio of ingredients (we used a 1:5 ratio of dried herbs to alcohol)
- Recommended usage (there are no official guidelines for this, but suggested dosage for willow bark tinctures ranges from 20-60 drops per use up to three or four times a day)