Make a Tincture to Ease Aches and Pains

[Adapted from Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies by Maria Noël Groves]

This multipurpose mix can be used topically and internally for joint, bone, tendon, and ligament pain, for both acute and chronic issues. You can make separate tinctures to combine as needed or make one combination blend in spring from scratch. Tinker with the herb proportions based on how much you can harvest. You can use this basic process for making other tinctures with fresh plants.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce fresh Solomon’s seal root
• 1 ounce fresh horsetail
• ²⁄₃ ounce fresh mullein root
• 5¹⁄₃ ounces high-proof alcohol, such as Everclear 151

1. 1. Weigh then coarsely chop your plant material with clippers or scissors.
   
2. 2. Shove the material into an 8-ounce jar — squeeze in as much as is humanly possible to get in there.
   
3. 3. Add enough alcohol to entirely fill the jar. You may need to hold the plant material down as you fill the jar. Use a knife or chopstick to poke around and remove air bubbles. Put on the lid. No need to shake. Open the jar a few days later to top off the contents with a little more alcohol, as needed (it’s important to keep the plant material covered).
   
4. 4. After at least 1 month, strain the mixture through a cloth. Squeeze out as much extract as you can with your hands. A potato ricer, wheatgrass juicer, or hydraulic tincture press will also work here.
   
5. 5. Pour the tincture into a dark glass bottle and store in a cool, dark, dry spot. It will keep for 3 to 10 years.

How to Use the Tincture

Take 0.5 to 1 ml (15 to 30 drops, diluted in water) as needed, one to four times daily. You can also rub a bit directly on the affected area. Topically, you can use the tincture straight, shake it vigorously with oil (comfrey-infused oil would work well), or stir it into premade cream.