I never knew how to use vodka or other alcohol to extract high potencies of herbal remnants from the plant to the alcohol. From what I've read there are different ways to do this.
Yes there are different methods of extracting the medicinal qualties from herbs and plants, tincturing is just one method, and there are also many methods for tincturing as well, this is just a general one I outlined here. Instead of vodka or ethanol as a base you could use glycerin and several other substances.
Yes you can use some different methods for it, one of my favorite, easy-to-do, and fairly quick ways of going about it is just boiling the plant over a low, concentrated heat source like a torch.
That method is very easy, it's called a decoction for reference, however while it's quick and easy, decoctions have a very short shelf life. Usually several days refrigerated if you don't use it all right away.
Note I learned from the herbal expert at my local pagan store;
You can also make tinctures using apple-cider vinegar if you don't wish to use alcohol, and more importantly apple-cider vinegar is almost the same pH as healthy skin. If you're like me and need tinctures for you skin use apple-cider vinegar to make it and then pour a little in your bath.
Works better than the junk my dermatologist prescribes!
What your describing Chiron isn't a tincture or more specifically a true tincture, by definition and nature tinctures are derived from a base of ethanol spirits because the alcohol extracts both the water soluble and fat soluble compounds from the plant. Whereas apple cider vinegar might extract some of the medicinal qualities of the plant, but using such a method is not recommended or prescribed for internal consumption, as tinctures are to be taken internally. Using apple cider vinegar if taken internally would cause stomach and throat irritation, gastrointestinal distress, and weakining of the stomach lining.
I found this interesting. I recently made two tinctures. One from parsley and one from chickweed. I was just wondering. Chickweed gets mixed reviews. Some people say it can be taken internally while some say it's toxic. Would you happen to know if chickweed is safe to consume?
In most cases yes it is relatively safe, although one should not take chickweed in any form while pregnant as it disrupts normal hormone production. Avoid taking high doses over a continuous period of time.
