Sleepy Time Tincture

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Before I became interested in herbal remedies, I had never heard of a tincture.  Maybe you haven’t, either.

A tincture is made by using alcohol to extract the medicinal qualities of a plant or herb.  Think of it as a concentrated herbal tea…but with vodka.

Don’t let the alcohol scare you, though.  It’s so concentrated, you only take a teaspoon of it at time.   And if the alcohol is a real issue for you, tinctures can also be made with glycerin.  I’ll give you instructions for both.

The general rule is that a teaspoon of tincture is equivalent to a cup of brewed tea.

Although I enjoy a good cup of tea now and then, it’s not my preferred method of taking remedies.  I’d rather just git ‘er done, as they say.

Plus, with this Sleepy Time Tincture, I am usually using it or giving it in the middle of the night.  When you’re trying to get to sleep, quicker is better.

I mix a teaspoon of the tincture with a swallow of juice and then follow with a small amount of plain juice. 

I learned how to make a tincture from this book and it couldn’t be simpler:

Fill a jar 1/3-1/2 full with your herb mixture and then fill to the top with vodka.  Cover and let sit in a cool, dark place for 4-6 weeks, shaking occasionally.  Then strain it (either with a strainer or through cheesecloth), being sure to push out every drop of liquid.  Label and store in a clean jar.

To make a glycerin tincture, the process is almost identical:

Fill your jar 1/3 –1/2 full with your herb mixture.  Add 1/2 cup of boiling water to moisten the herbs.  Add glycerin to fill the jar.  Cover jar and let stand in cool, dark spot for at 3-4 weeks, shaking occasionally.    Then strain and label as above.

Sleepy Time Tincture has been a God-send in our house.

Have you ever had one of those nights when your mind just will not stop racing?

Sleepy Time Tincture.

How about when you’ve been sick and slept all day, and then night comes and you can’t rest?

Sleepy Time Tincture.

And there’s no grogginess the next day!

 

Here’s what’s in this elixir:

2 parts Chamomile – calms anxiety, relaxes muscles, relieves restlessness

1 part Valerian Root – sedative, reduces anxiety, relaxes nervous system

1 part Lemon Balm – relaxes muscles, promotes rest, relieves anxiety

I’ve seen other recipes with catnip, passionflower, oat straw, peppermint, or hops included.  When I made mine, I only had the three herbs listed in my stash at the time, so that’s what I used.  I’ve even made it with just the chamomile and valerian and had great results.

Something to note:

Valerian should not be given to children.  If you plan to use this tincture with Litttles, you should make a glycerin tincture, and leave out the valerian.

If you’re interested in other tinctures, check out this one that I use every single month religiously.

I buy just about all my herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.  I love them!

 

What have you used to help you rest on those sleepless nights?

 

** Information on medicinal uses for herbs are provided on this site for educational use only, and is not intended as medical advice.  I’ve made every attempt at accuracy,  but cannot make guarantees.  If you have any serious health concerns, you should always check with your doctor before self-administering herbs.**