Seasonal Tinctures

**Catnip Tincture

Nepeta cataria

Catnip isn't just for cats! It's a highly relazing nervine that is especially indicated for heightened anxiety, restlessness, and irritability. It helps to ease tension in the body, calm jitters, and reduce insomnia. It also helps to ease digestive issues such as mild diarrhea and nausea, especially those originating from stress. 

 

**Chamomile Tincture

Matricaria chamomilla

Chamomile is not only gentle and powerful, it seemingly does a thousand and one different things, from soothing the nervous system, relieving muscle tension, and addressing cold and flu symptoms, to promoting digestion and modulating inflammation. Chamomile has been loved and revered by people for thousands of years…actually make that hundreds of thousands of years. Excavations at Jacob’s Bridge, an archeological site in Israel, reveal that Paleolithic humans were using chamomile as early as 800,000 years ago!

 

**Chickweed Tincture

Stellaria Media

This astringent, antibacterial, and antifungal herb is renowned by herbalists worldwide for its ability to treat a number of skin complaints and relieve itching and inflammation when used topically. Used internally, is it alterative (promotes lymph flow), is a diuretic and mild laxative, and can help ease respiratory inflammation associated with colds, flus, and allergies. High in many essential vitamins and minerals, it's nutrient-rich and is perfect for use as a daily multipurpose tonic. If you come across this wonderful spring herb in the wild, it is fabulous when eaten fresh in a salad!

 

**Cleavers Tincture

Galium aparine

Cleavers is a classic alterative herb (lymphatic tonic) that also helps with skin conditions. Helps reduce lymphatic swelling, and also is immensely effective for easing urinary tract infections.

 

**Feverfew Tincture

Tanacetum parthenium

Also called "medieval aspirin," Feverfew is possibly the highest-regarded herb for preventing migraines, calming inflammatory pain, and reducing fevers.

The Penn State Hershey Medical Center published this: "Feverfew was popular in the 1980s as a treatment for migraines. A survey of 270 people with migraines in Great Britain found that more than 70% of them felt much better after taking an average of 2 to 3 fresh feverfew leaves daily. Several human studies have used feverfew to prevent and treat migraines. Overall, these studies suggest that taking dried leaf capsules of feverfew every day may reduce the number of migraines in people who have chronic migraines. One study used a combination of feverfew and white willow (Salix alba), which has chemicals like aspirin. People who took the combination twice a day for 12 weeks had fewer migraines and the pain did not last as long or hurt as much. Another study found that people who took a special extract of feverfew had fewer migraine attacks per month compared to people who took placebo. A 3-month study with 49 people found that a combination of feverfew, magnesium, and vitamin B2 led to a 50% decrease in migraines."

 

**Holy Basil (Tulsi) Tincture

Ocimum sanctum

For over 3,000 years holy basil, or tulsi, has been revered as one of India’s most sacred and powerful plants. Think about that. Ayurveda, one of the oldest and most sophisticated systems of medicine in the world, reveres this plant. Holy basil is often used as an adaptogen herb. Adaptogenic herbs, by definition, are herbs that are non-toxic and used to generally support the health of a person under stress in non-specific ways. Adaptogens are used to positively address many nervous system issues, including the negative effects of excessive stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression, overwork, and more. Holy basil can be considered a balm to the entire nervous system. It can be taken daily to support good health or relied upon frequently to address many nervous system complaints.

 

** Hops Tincture

Humulus Lupulus

Before trendy bars started highlighting their hoppy brews, the hop plant was used as a traditional herbal medicine. With their aromatic and pungent scent, hops flowers have been prized for their ability to help people relax. This use dates back thousands of years, at least since the ninth century.

Hops are a bitter relaxing nervine and are used for many types of nervous tension, especially when associated with digestive distress, pain, spasms, or sexual overstimulation. They are specifically used for muscle tension, including intestinal cramping and menstrual cramps. Herbalist Matthew Wood says that hops are suited to people with intense personalities and strong emotions that result in nervous exhaustion, insomnia, and worry. As a relaxing nervine, hops have been shown to decrease stress during stressful situations. In a 2018 double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers gave healthy volunteers a stressful test. Those drinking an extract of hops had fewer markers of stress than those taking a placebo. Another study showed that when taken over a four-week period, an extract of hops has been shown to decrease depression, anxiety, and stress in young adults. The hops used in this tincture grow wild on Kelsey Island!

 

**Lavender Tincture

Lavandula angustifolia/Lavandula x intermedia

Made with homegrown lavender flowers and leaves, this superhero amongst nervine tonics is meant to relieve stress and anxiety, and to promote relaxation and restful sleep. Take straight from the bottle or dilute into herbal tea, or rub on temples for headaches.

**Mugwort Tincture

Artemisia Vulgaris

Mugwort is best known for its actions as an aromatic bitter, which increases digestion and enhances nutrition by stimulating digestive and bile secretion. It helps to relieve gas, ease cramps, increase the appetite and cleanse the bowels.

Mugwort is also associated with menstruation. It increases circulation to warm up the uterus and pelvic region, move the blood, remove stagnant blood (the source of cramps, stiffness and pain) and regulate hormone levels. Some use it as a general menstrual cramp regulator (particularly for congestive cramps with symptoms of feeling heavy, thick, pain in the lower back and general stagnancy) or for violent cramps. Mugwort is also the most loved herb for inducing vivid lucid dreams!

 

** Nettle Tincture

Urtica Dioica

Herbalists use nettle both as a highly nourishing food and as medicine. Stinging nettle is a powerful source of many different nutrients. It is a notable source for calcium, manganese, magnesium, vitamin K,  and carotenoids. It's wonderful for seasonal allergies and is often taken as a tonic for preventing allergic reactions to pollen and also easing the symptoms of allergies. It’s used for both women’s and men’s reproductive health, to restore energy levels, to detoxify the body (by supporting elimination organs), to relieve allergies, and to strengthen bones, hair, nails, and teeth. It might be easier to discuss what nettle doesn’t do!

 

**Red Clover Tincture

Trifolium pratense

Red clover is a nutritionally complex herb used to support proper lymphatic function (alterative), immune support, healthy skin, and proper endocrine function. It contains genistein, daidzein, and biochanin-A, among other isoflavones; supplements high in these types of flavonoids are generally useful as a tonic for menstrual irregularity and menopause.

 

**Rosemary Tincture

Rosmarinus officinalis (syn. Salvia rosmarinus)

Rosemary is famously called the herb of remembrance and has long been used as a symbolic way to remember a loved one or event, such as in weddings and funerals. It is traditionally used to improve cognitive function and memory, and herbalists often recommend that students smell a sprig while studying and then again while taking their exams. It's said this tradition goes as far back as ancient Greece! Science has since validated that rosemary reduces test anxiety and can significantly enhance

memory.

 

** Saint John's Wort Tincture

Hypericum perforatum

Sunny St. John's Wort is has been praised by herbalists and medical professionals alike for its ability to repair damaged nerves and dull nerve pain, such as sciatica and other nerve-related aches. You may have heard about the herb's ability to help with mild to moderate depression- this is because it works similarly to an SSRI antidepressant (like Prozac or Zoloft) in that it promotes proper brain synapse function, and is even prescribed by doctors in some Western European countries. As a powerful nervine tonic, it is also known for its ability to reduce the occurrence and severity of HSV and shingles outbreaks, as well as other nervous system viruses. In a few key studies, the herb has been shown to be more effective with fewer side effects. NOTE: This herb should be ingested with care, as it is known to lessen the effectiveness of some drugs, including statins, anti-convulsants, prescription antidepressants, beta-blockers, and hormonal birth control (although the studies surround SJW use and BC is inconclusive). If you take any of these drugs, please check with your doctor before ingesting SJW.

 

**Skullcap Tincture

Scutellaria Lateriflora

Skullcap is prized for its ability to relax the nervous system. Stress, tension, anxiety, and panic attacks are all indications for this broadly useful nervine. Skullcap goes to work quickly and can generally be felt within a short amount of time, making it incredibly helpful in times of acute panic and overstimulation. It also has a tonic effect, meaning that it works well for ongoing stress when used regularly. This herb pairs beautifully with other nervines like passionflower, hops, lavender, holy basil, and lemon balm.

 

**Thyme Tincture

Thymus Vulgaris

Thyme is strongly antimicrobial and has traditionally been used for many types of bacterial infections. It can be used in mouthwashes for sore gums, inflamed gums, or minor mouth infections. A gargle made with thyme, or putting thyme in herbal tea with honey and lemon, can soothe a sore throat. Thyme has been used for a variety of symptoms related to colds and influenza for thousands of years. Thyme is also well known for stopping coughing spasms and is widely employed as an antitussive. Like many of our culinary herbs, thyme both tastes great and helps digestion. It can be enjoyed in meals to support already healthy digestion or it can be taken as a tincture or tea after meals to move stagnant digestion like bloating and gas.

 

**Usnea Tincture

Usnea longissimus; usnea spp.

Usnea is thought of as a sort of "herbal antibiotic" and has long been used to treat infections of many kinds, including sore throats, lung infections, wounds, urinary tract infections, and vaginal infections. Usnea is an antimicrobial herb, meaning that it affects a wide range of pathogens. However, it does not act like a pharmaceutical antibiotic that indiscriminately kills all bacteria. Usnea is also commonly used as an antifungal herb. It can be used both externally and internally for a variety of fungal infections of the skin, genitals, and nose. The diluted tincture is also useful as a wound wash.

 

**Willow Bark Tincture

Salix spp.

Sometimes called “the aspirin plant,” willow was the first plant from which salicylic acid was isolated in 1828. However, willow doesn’t present with the gastrointestinal risks inherent in aspirin because of the astringent nature of the other constituents in the plant. It is marvelous in reducing pain and headaches and can be taken for the same ailments for which you would take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It's also indicated for acne and skin inflammation, so go check out my listings for the Midsummer Salix pain balm and Azure Willow dry face oil for more information about willow's topical uses!

 

**Yarrow Tincture

Achillea millefolium

Also known as Soldier's Woundwort, yarrow is an ancient ally that has been used for tens of thousands of years for a myriad of health issues! It was given the scientific name of 'Achillea' because it is believed that Achilles used this plant to staunch the bleeding of his soldiers' wounds. Even if Achilles is in fact myth, we do have written record of Roman soldiers using it in the battlefield, hence the folk name of 'soldier's woundwort'! It is used internally for colds and flu by supporting the fever process, thereby making the body an inhospitable host for the virus, as a women's tonic for menstrual issues like menorrhagia and cramps, urinary issues, and improving blood circulation and flow.