How to make a Dandelion Tincture

How to Make a Dandelion Tincture:

1. Harvest the entire plant, including the root, leaves, buds, blossoms and seed heads (remembering sustainable harvesting protocol) *Harvest with respect and deep gratitiude

2. Cut all parts of the plant into very small pieces, the smaller the better because it exposes more surface area of the plant.

3. Put the pieces in a pint -quart jar with a tight fitting lid ( depending on how much you have harvested.

4. Pour 100 proof vodka into the jar so the liquid fills to the top of the plant material.

5. At this point you can also blend the vodka and plant mixture.

6. Wipe the top lid of the jar and put a piece of wax paper over the opening. Then screw the lid on the jar. Tighten firmly.

7. Shake your mixture energetically.

8. Label the jar with with the name of the herb, the parts of the plant used and the date the tincture will be ready - which is fourteen days from the day the extract is prepared.

9. Over the next fourteen days revisit the tincture and vigorously shake it from 1-3 times a day.

10. After a minimum of fourteen days and nights, separate the plant material from the liquid extract. To do so, line a large hand-held strainer with a square piece of (unbleached, cotton) muslin cloth. The cloth should be large enough so it hangs about an 1-2 inches over the edges of the strainer. Place the muslin-lined strainer over glass or a stainless steel container. Carefully pour all the the extract over the cloth. After, join the corners of the cloth above the left over plant material. Grasp the muslin covered plant material and squeeze, press and twist the rest of the liquid out. Remove as much liquid as possible and dispose the left over plant material (called the marc) in compost.

11. Pour the herbal extract into a bottle that can be tightly capped, and store it in a cool, dark place. This will keep for many years

12. This is your tincture. Nice.

Note: For safe use of the tincture take 30-50 drops, 3-4 times daily. But it is important to start with a lower dosage. It is often best used for a full month up to a year. Over the course of a week, take the remedy six days, with one- two random days off. Overconsumption is unadvised, while dandelion root has not shown signs of any toxicity. Also see dandelion root: