Join Herbalist Elaine Sheff from Green Path Herb School to learn how to make a fennel glycerite. Vegetable glycerine makes a sweet tincture as an alternative to alcohol tincture.
Hi thanks for making this. What compounds in the fennel are you looking to extract with glycerin, volatile oils and aromatics? And what (regular household) solvents do you recommend for different desirable compounds, such as terpenes, essential oils, alkaloids, etc? I'm pretty sure glycerin and vinegar are both pretty good at this, but I'm always looking for alternatives to ethanol extraction.
I am decanting tinctures and glycerites. Lemon balm was awesome. Goldenrod leaf and flower glycerite tastes and smells kind of moldy, no sign of mold. I don’t know what it is supposed to taste/smell like. I don’t see any actual mold,
Hummm... Glycerites are more fragile than alcohol extracts. I can't smell it, of course, but I'd be careful with that and probably throw it away if you aren't sure. Good luck!
I just stumbled across your site and have been interested in doing glycerite. May I ask where did you get your press?.......I would really love to purchase one for my own use!
This is all so fascinating to me. I am pretty new to all of this, I just want a way to make great medicine for my kids and husband. We definitely cannot have alcohol in the house, but I am still confused by all of this. Scared about the water content in the herbs mixed in with the glycerin, just so nervous to make something. Right now, I am infusing herbs with apple cider vinegar for my hair but I want to make medicine so badly, I just don't wanna mess this up and the ratios scare me. I wish I could ideally just use alcohol and I wouldn't have to worry but we really can't use alcohol
Hey Hair! You can also make medicines out of honey and vinegar. I'd recommend buying a book on herbal medicine making or taking a class. For sure - you can do it!!! :)
The best way to determine this is to weigh a sample, dry it, and then weigh it again. The difference between the two is the amount of water in the plant.
Do you need to use hot water/crock pot for the tincture making process? Can you just let it sit in the jar with the glycerin without the heating process like you would a vinegar or alcohol method?
The heat will extract quicker and more thoroughly, taking around a day or less. You can just let it sit for a few weeks (4-6) but it won't do quite as good a job. It would be interesting for you to do one of each and see which one you prefer.
@@antoniobaleanu319 There is no exact time. Dry herbs can "sit" for months if you don't need them. I'd get fresh herbs out in less time (4-6 weeks tops) as the water in them makes them more likely to grow mold, etc.
No, you shouldn't need a preservative as long as it is stored correctly and used within the allotted time. To use, simply take around 30 drops or so (depending on body weight and sensitivity) orally.
I read you cannot heat glycerin? Does the heat change the chemical make up? Heating would be so much faster. I am waiting 6 weeks on my tinctures because of using 2/3 glycerin and 1/3 water instead of alcohol. So heating will work for dried herbs also??
Yes, I understand the confusion. Distilled water can do a better job of extracting, but if it is stored in plastic, it can also do a better job of extracting plastic... So I prefer to use filtered water. Honestly, you could use tap water as well, if that is all you had access to.
@@greenpathherbschool no way!! I thought it had to do with bacterial/mineral content, I've put off trying to make anything with water because I'm so scared, the alcohol kills everything right 😆 thank you so much!!
@@bruinrose Is there a reason you can't use distilled water? I only ever use distilled water because if it's safe enough for babies it's safe enough to use in my body products and in my elixirs.
@@gracierosemiller4411 it's just more inconvenient to get distilled water when I could just use filtered water I always have on hand, awhile ago I also read it's not good to drink distilled water and lastly the company I'm buying herbal products from uses filtered water in the products they sell
Yes, you can also use vinegar or even vegetable oil. Another way to extract herbs is simply to make a tea. But each herbal has constituents that are best extracted in certain mediums. Is it water soluble? Does it extract well into a fixed oil such as vegetable oil? So learning about the plant can help you determine how to best use it. Alcohol generally extracts and preserves "most" constituents well, but even that has limitations. For example, alcohol doesn't extract minerals well (making a tea is much better for this). I hope that helps! I know it's a complex subject. :)
It can be used for both fresh or dried herbs. Some herbs don't extract as well in glycerin, so I recommend researching your individual plant before proceeding. :)
