Elder-Berries or Flowers?

[juco]

If this has already been talked to death, please humor me just a bit.
I ran across this on another board and just wanted some of you more experienced tincture making folks to clarify this for me:



".... get yourself some Everclear alcohol. Vodka is the next best thing if you can't get Everclear. You can mix the strength of the tincture alcohol to exactly what you need: 50% Everclear to 50% distilled water is the recommended amount for dried elderberry FLOWERS, but the berries is recommended that you use a GLYCERINE based ticture - it brings out the medicinal value of the berries more. You mix it with 1 part dried and crushed berries to 5 parts of a mixture that is 60% glycerine and 40% distilled water. Then the process is the same - shake it at least once a day to mix it up really well, then strain it (pressing it really hard through a couple of layers of good cheese cloth that we all have laying around!). let it sit overnight to settle any extras, and strain it out again the following morning."


I was all set to order my berries this morning when I read that. Then I didn't know whether to get the berries, the flowers ...or both!

Seriously, since I can only afford to order and make only one batch right now, which would be the more beneficial? Berries and glycerine or flowers and vodka?

 

[Kathy in WV]

I think everyone on this board will tell you to put your BERRIES in VODKA to tincture, and then if you want to use glycerin there is a way to mix it into the tincture and cook out the alcohol, leaving just the elderberry in the glycerin. We have a lot of herbal gurus on here so just wait a bit for one of them to guide you best! Kat

 

[goatlady2]

Kathy has it correct - if you want the BEST protection from the flu its berries and vodka. T he berries contain the MOST medicinal properties according to what I have read and practice and vodka is what is needed to draw those proterties out and capture them in the suspension of vodka. The glycerine base works okay and it most useful if the person who wants to take it has a problem with alcohol or is too young a child to take that much alcohol. You can do a search in this forum for further info on elderbery tincture.

 

[juco]

Thanks ladies, that's what I wanted to hear. Yes, I had read the other posts, but just needed to be reassured that the berries and alcohol were the way to go.
I was having trouble figuring out how glycerine would do a better job at drawing out the medicinal properties in the berries.

Berries and booze it is, then!

 

[Herbmountain]

It depends on the plant. Most plants, the root is the strongest. Some plants, only the leaf is used such as ginkgo biloba. The common rule is, root is strongest, fruit next (berry) and leaf is the weakest. In elderberry, listed to Goatlady. Use only the berry.

 

[Littlesister]

Would the glycerin formula have to be stored in thr refridgerator?

 

[Herbmountain]

No on the glycerin formula stored in the fridge. Ghia makes glycerin formulas and they are not sent refrigerated. I make formulas that I keep out on the sink and they are glycerin. I have never had any problem.