Herbal tinctures are one of the easiest ways to preserve the healing power of your homegrown and wild foraged herbs, and one of the most useful remedies to have in your pantry. They’re potent, compact, and shelf-stable for years. And while tinctures can be expensive to buy, they’re incredibly affordable to make at home… provided you plan ahead.
All you need is a clean jar, herbs (fresh or dried), and a neutral spirit like vodka. Fill the jar ½ to ¾ with herbs, cover with alcohol, and let it infuse for 4 to 6 weeks. After straining, you’ve got a ready-to-use tincture.
(There’s a bit more to it, of course, and if you want the full how-to, I have a complete guide to making herbal tinctures on the blog, along with all of my tincture making tutorials.)
But which tinctures should you make?
It really depends on what you need most—whether you’re trying to stay healthy during cold and flu season, get better sleep, calm anxious thoughts, or soothe a stubborn headache. Below, I’ve broken down some of the most common uses for tinctures and linked to full tutorials for each one.
(If I’ve missed your favorites or you’re looking for a specific ailment, let me know!)
It should go without saying that I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on the internet. This should not be confused with health advice from a qualified professional, and obviously, you should always do your own research. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned through more than 20 years of research into medicinal herbs, and what work with my own family.
Tinctures for Sleep and Relaxation
Some of the most commonly used tinctures help with winding down at the end of the day or easing anxiety and stress.
Valerian Tincture – Traditionally used as a natural sleep aid and mild sedative. This one has a strong flavor that some people (like me) love, but others hate. Mixing it 50//50 with lavender tincture helps the flavor.
Lavender Tincture – Calming for both body and mind, and may help relieve tension headaches too. Tastes great, and some people use this one as a cordial (just add a touch of sugar or honey).
St. John’s Wort Tincture – Best known for helping with seasonal blues and mild anxiety, but it’s also great for sciatica, neuropathy and nerve pain.
Wild Lettuce Tincture – Known for its gentle sedative and pain-relieving effects, many people swear by this one for chronic pain. Be aware that this one is a bit more involved to make than most.
Motherwort Tincture – Calms a racing heart and eases emotional tension, especially helpful during hormonal shifts or anxiety.
Chamomile Tincture – Gentle sedative for sleeplessness, stress, and stomach upset; also useful in children's remedies.
These also work beautifully as glycerites if you're avoiding alcohol or making remedies for children. Chamomile glycerite, for example, is great for sleep, colic, or teething.
Immune-Boosting Tinctures
Want to support your immune system naturally? These are my go-tos, especially during seasonal transitions:
Elderberry Tincture – A well-known remedy for immune support, modern studies show that taking it at the first sign of the flu can help you get better an average of 4 days faster than you otherwise would! This one tastes great too.
Echinacea Tincture – Often used at the first sign of illness, similar to elderberry. This one doesn’t taste great though, and I mix just a bit (1 part) with a lot of elderberry (3 parts).
Chaga Mushroom Tincture – Traditionally used to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. Mushroom tinctures are much more involved to make, as they’re double extracted to get all the medicinal constituents.
Reishi Mushroom Tincture – An adaptogen and immune modulator used for long-term support.
Turkey Tail Mushroom Tincture – A deeply researched medicinal mushroom that supports immune resilience and gut health.
Usnea Tincture – A powerful antimicrobial, often used for respiratory infections. This one kills bacteria on contact, so it’s great to use for sore throats where it can coat your throat as it goes down. It’s also used topically the same way.
Elderflower Tincture – Soothing for fevers and congestion, this one’s often used in glycerite form to bring down fevers in little ones and encourage restful sleep.
Oregano Tincture – Strongly antimicrobial, commonly used during colds and flus or as a natural alternative to OTC remedies.
Calendula Tincture – While best known for skin healing, calendula also supports the lymphatic system, helping the body clear waste and fight infection more effectively. Often used during recovery from illness or to gently boost immune resilience.
Tinctures for Respiratory Support
These are the tinctures I reach for when someone in our house has a cough, chest congestion, or seasonal sinus issues:
Thyme Tincture – A natural expectorant and antimicrobial herb that’s helpful for wet or congested coughs. This is my go to for coughs that come with a runny nose.
Elecampane Tincture – Excellent for deep, lingering coughs and clearing mucus from the lungs. This one’s great for when you feel like you have an elephant on your chest.
Marshmallow Root Tincture – Soothing to irritated tissues, especially helpful for dry coughs and sore throats.
Bee Balm Tincture – Strongly antimicrobial and helpful for upper respiratory infections, and also great for sore throats.
Many of these also pair beautifully in an oxymel or syrup if you’re looking for a more soothing remedy for coughs and colds.
Tinctures for Pain Relief
Whether it’s sore muscles, menstrual cramps, or nerve pain, herbal tinctures can offer natural relief without over-the-counter meds.
Wild Lettuce Tincture – Many people swear by this one as lifechanging, and while I wouldn’t go that far, it is pretty darn effective for me. This herb has mild sedative and pain-relieving properties, especially for chronic pain or nighttime discomfort, especially for things like low back pain.
Crampbark Tincture – True to its name, it’s excellent for muscle cramps, tension headaches, and menstrual pain.
Motherwort Tincture – Helpful for calming stress-related tension and can also ease mild menstrual cramps.
St. John’s Wort Tincture – Often used for nerve pain, especially shooting or burning sensations like sciatica or neuropathy.
Turmeric Tincture – A powerful anti-inflammatory for joint pain, arthritis, or general stiffness.
Ginger Tincture – Warming and circulation-boosting, great for sore joints and muscle aches.
Spilanthes Tincture – Known for its numbing effect on toothaches and mouth pain, and traditionally used for broader pain and inflammation relief due to its immune-modulating and circulatory-stimulating properties.
These can be taken individually or blended depending on the type of pain. For example, crampbark and wild lettuce pair well for nighttime relief, while ginger and turmeric make a good daytime combo for stiffness and inflammation.
Tinctures for First Aid & Skin Support
Keep a few of these on hand for life’s scrapes, cuts, and skin flare-ups:
Yarrow Tincture – Stops bleeding, speeds healing, and can be applied directly to cuts. I keep this one in a spray bottle for when the littles get cuts and scrapes in the yard.
Dandelion Tincture – Traditionally used to support liver function and spring detox, also helps clear skin when taken internally.
Chickweed Tincture – Cooling and soothing, especially for itchy or irritated skin (used internally).
Black Walnut Tincture – Antifungal and often used topically for things like ringworm or athlete’s foot, but it’s also used internally for parasites. It’s one of the only land based sources of iodine as well, so some people use it as an iodine supplement.
All Heal (Prunella) Tincture – A classic wound herb used internally and externally.
Red Clover Tincture – Known for skin and hormonal support, and often used as a gentle detox.
Jewelweed Tincture – A go-to topical remedy for poison ivy, bug bites, and skin irritations. Best applied externally for bug bites, but it’s also used internally because it’s rich in nutrients for skin support.
Calendula Tincture – Anti-inflammatory and healing for skin, used both internally and topically for cuts, rashes, and gut inflammation.
Spilanthes Tincture – Sometimes called “toothache plant,” it’s used for oral health and as an immune stimulant with anti-fungal properties.
Tinctures for Headaches, Focus & Energy
Need a little clarity or relief from brain fog?
Lavender Tincture – Helps with tension headaches and promotes calm focus.
St. John’s Wort Tincture – Useful for nerve-related pain or headaches, as well as mood support.
Burdock Tincture – Traditionally used for detox, and believed to support cognitive clarity through liver health.
Ginger Tincture – Supports circulation and alertness while helping with nausea and headaches.
Turmeric Tincture – A powerful anti-inflammatory for both body and mind.
Tinctures for Digestion
Great to have on hand for after-meal support or when something just doesn’t sit right.
Nasturtium Tincture – A pungent, peppery herb that stimulates digestion and fights off unwanted microbes.
Dandelion Tincture – A bitter that supports liver and gallbladder function.
Thyme Tincture – Antimicrobial and carminative, often used for bloating, gas, or upset stomach.
Crampbark Tincture – Used for relaxing intestinal cramping (and menstrual cramps too). It’s also use for muscle pain and cramping throughout the body.
Ginger Tincture – A classic remedy for nausea, motion sickness, and sluggish digestion.
Oxymels & Alcohol-Free Options
If you’d rather skip alcohol, try a glycerite or oxymel (herbal vinegar + honey). These are especially helpful for kids or anyone who wants a gentler option.
Some of my favorite oxymels include:
Bee Balm Oxymel – Sore throat relief
Elderberry Oxymel – Immune support
Elecampane Oxymel – Deep coughs and congestion
And yes, I have a full guide to making oxymels too, in case you want to try your hand at these tasty remedies. Homemade herbal glycerites are also a great option, made with vegetable glycerine instead of alcohol.
Want to learn more?
If you’d like to dive deeper into homemade herbal medicine, I also have a full guide covering more than 20 types of herbal preparations—from tinctures and teas to salves, poultices, syrups, and more.
Let me know what you’re most interested in!
Are you drying herbs? Starting tinctures? Building up your home apothecary?
I’d love to hear what you’re working on—hit the button below and leave me a note in the comments and let me know how I can help you this week.
Until Next Time,
Ashley at Practical Self Reliance
P.S. If you know someone who’s just getting started with herbal remedies, feel free to forward this to them—they might find a favorite new tincture too!
Again, it should go without saying that I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on the internet. This should not be confused with health advice from a qualified professional. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned through more than 20 years of research into medicinal herbs, and what work with my own family.
Question Via Email:
Excellent info, Ashely. You do good work and I always appreciate your writings. Two questions:
1. Do you find that in most cases when using these herbs that tea has the same beneficial effect as a tincture?
2. Do you ever use wormwood?
Hi Ashley!
Are there any uses for a mint tincture? Have you made or tried one?
I currently have an abundance of place to forage jewelweed, and I am looking forward to making a jewelweed preparation for poison ivy relief. I may a salve/ointment preparation; I'm thinking a tincture might sting on a poison ivy rash that I have definitely scratched before treating.