Sometimes the simplest recipes are the most powerful, and it was just about a year ago I made my first tincture in my herbalist certification, with two simple kitchen herbs, fresh ginger and dried rosemary from my friend’s farm.
This recipe was in one of our three course books, The Gift of Healing Herbs, by Robin Rose Bennett , and I loved the simplicity of it, combined with its robustness of its healing power. Both herbs (and most herbs) touch in many categories of healing – digestion, brain, heart, inflammation, immune – and so this has become one of my regular tonics! I squeeze a dropper into my soda water at night for a little mocktail, and it has become a lovely new staple. Its fragrant and warming qualities make for a delightfully meditative cuppa!
Over the last year, I have gone through phases of using it and not, so this one jar has lasted me nearly 12 months. I expected to need to make it before now. So imagine my surprise this morning, on the Taurus New Moon, when I saw a reminder in my Google Photos of one year ago, me and this tincture. If you know me, this kind of Synchronicity is my jam!
I’ll include photos of Robin’s recipe and description for you to read further about its inherent magic, and keep this post simple so you can get to it!
Folk method (not weighed, just intuited)
Fill half of a small ball jar with dried or fresh ginger and the other half with dried or fresh rosemary, and then pour over your alcohol of choice, filling the jar. Leave a little room at the top of both herb and menstruum (liquid) so you can shake it throughout the 4 weeks or longer that you steep it. The longer the better.
For the menstruum, I like Brandy because I find it more palpable in a mocktail, but you could use gin to pair it will well the hints of juniper berry or vodka if you like it to be as powerful as possible.
Then let it sit somewhere out of the direct sunlight, room temperature, for at least a full moon cycle or more. I like to make my tinctures on the New Moon, because the energy is drawing, and will help to draw the most nutrients out of the herbs. It also feels more sacred and intentional.
Once you’ve let it steep for as long as you like (no more than 3 months is needed because typically all the extraction occurs within the first 2 months, but if you forget about it and find it a year later, that’s ok too!), strain the herbs out in cheesecloth and put the tincture liquid into a brown jar, labeling it with the date and what it’s good for so you remember to use it, share it, and make the most of it power!
Stay tuned to this channel, more recipes to follow as we focus on providing simple healing resources to make your life the healthiest expression of you!
