LET'S TALK Tinctures

Herbal medicine is ancient. We find herbs in salves, teas, sprinkled on salads, condensed into oils and extracts, powdered into jars and capsules, brewed into fermented concoctions. One of the lesser-touted ways to consume herbs these days is in tincture form, but here at Åmé, we think we should all get on board with tinctures.

First of all, what is tincture? Tinctures are potent herbal extracts made by soaking the leaves, flowers, fruit (like berries, think schisandra), or roots from either alcohol, vinegar, or glycerin. The alcohol, vinegar, or glycerin pulls out the active properties within the herb, rendering them concentrated, effective extracts. We only take a dropperful orally, 1-3 times daily for quick, accumulative results.

Tinctures make it easy and relatively fast to absorb the medicinal components of our rich plant friends. When extracted in glycerin, they are typically sweet, with a syrupy consistency, and can be taken right on the tongue. It’s delightful, and almost like a treat! If extracted in alcohol or vinegar, however, tinctures typically have an incredible bitter taste, even if only on the tongue for a moment, which seems to be enough to deter many consumers. We like to take them in the back of the mouth, but some tinctures are best taken a few drops at a time, sublingually (under the tongue) for fast absorption.

With all the powders and capsules on the market, we think tinctures are a fantastic way to mitigate our pill-swallowing throughout the day, as well as get results quickly. Here are some of our favorites for mood, health, and beauty:

Libido Herbs

Herbs like Ashwagandha, maca, horny goat weed, and cordyceps are great for encouraging a relaxed state of mind, assisting with hormone regulation, and promoting stamina and blood flow, all of which set the stage for a healthy, heightened sexual awareness.

Skin Herbs

Schisandra berry is a super tart and bitter, hardy berry native to Northern China, Korea, and Japan. It’s known for its abilities to mitigate stress levels, improve energy, and balance the thyroid and other hormone regulating organs. Reduced stress and regulated hormones means glowing skin and shiny hair!

Relaxation Herbs

Lemon balm, skullcap, Californian poppy, valerian root, and reishi make up the ultimate relaxation herb medley for a restorative, peaceful night’s rest. Take a few hours before bed, and then at least 30 minutes before retiring on a regular basis to see the best results.

Focus Herbs

Gotu Kola and ginseng are great herbs for memory, energy, and concentration, making these a great choice for a distracted mind or a busy work day.

Happiness Herbs

Mucuna Pruriens has been affectionately nicknamed nature’s “dopa-bean” because of its dopaminergic action in the body— meaning it mimics the happiness chemical dopamine, and it’s antidepressant abilities.