We just finished talking about this over on Ren's Nest. The typical amounts for a tincture are 1:4. That is, One part herb, to Four parts menstrum, the menstrum being liquid. I answered:
"I totally disagree with the amounts used. Pack that jar at least half full to 3/4 full with dried herb then pour alcohol over it and let it go to about 2 inches on top of the herb. Let that soak for a day or two, and see if you need more alcohol as the herb absorbs the liquid. You want a strong tincture, of any herb.
A long, long time ago, when herbalist got together and decided to share formulas with the public, they decided on the 1:4 or 1:5 ratio of herb to menstrum. This is not THIER formula or how they make their tinctures at all. They crammed the herb in the jar and then added the menstrum. You see, they figured that if the public could make their own, even if it was weak, it could handle minor complaints. However, if they were really sick and the mild tinctures wouldn't help the complaint, they would still go the the kind herbalist who shared his formula. They could get well with his formula, since he told them they could get better with a boosted tincture. And they did.
Now with fresh herb, just clean off the leaves, flowers, seeds and roots of echinacea, or any other herb part that you use with other herbs and cram, I do mean cram into a jar. Personally, I use a blender, cram 3/4 full, pour over the menstrum and blend it to pieces. Since with echinacea I use a whole gallon jar, I do this with the blender several times to make up a gallon. Now that it is made, within one minute you have a tincture you can start using now. A one minute tincture of fresh herb is stronger than anything you will find on the market. So scoop out some of the tincture to be ready to use right now, and replace the menstrum in the jar. Put the lid on, shake it up. You want to keep it in the jar (shaken every day) for at least 2 weeks, but the longer you can keep it with the herb in it, the stronger it will be. Just replace menstrum for whatever you took out, and shake the jar.
With a dried herb tincture, you will have to learn which herbs soak in lots of menstrum and swell considerably and which just swell a little. So with dried herbs, just fill the jar at least half-way up and add the alcohol to about 2 more inches than herb. Then wait a day or so for the herb to soak in the menstrum. If it soaks up all the menstrum, then add more, just about 2 inches, and see how much it soaks in. Once it has soaked in all it can, there should be about 2 inches of menstrum that the herb is either floating on top of or 2 inches on top. Now it is ready. Now you count the 2 weeks. it is best started on the new moon and finished by the full moon.
You want your tinctures to kick some major bacterial or viral butt, so the tincture you just made is called a 1 power tincture. If you want that stronger, and with echinacea you do, make a 3 power tincture.
Get your herb in the jar again, and then pour the finished and strained tincture over the herbs. Let it soak in, see if you need more menstrum (for 3 power, just alcohol) and add if necessary. Lid it and shake for two weeks, and at the end, strain out and you have a 3 power tincture.
Now, want and even stronger tincture? How about a 7 power tincture? Do the same thing, put more herb in the jar, pour the 3 power tincture over the herb and let soak adding alcohol if it calls for it. Lid, shake strain for 2 weeks and you have a mighty echinacea tincture.
Use less with the 3 and 7 power tinctures especially with children. but it will still do the job and faster than the one power tinctures."
Lynques
