Customer question:
Can we soak an Echinacea in brandy? Anonymous customer's question
Pharmacist's answer:
Echinacea purpurea is a plant especially popular during the flu and cold season. It helps us the fastest if we start using Echinacea at the first signs of cold. Echinacea soaked in brandy or Echinacea tincture is considered a natural remedy that you can also prepare yourself.
Tinctures are a convenient way of taking, using, and preparing herbal medicines. The tincture of Echinacea is widely known for stimulating the immune response. Native Americans used echinacea as a natural all-purpose remedy for headaches, up to snakebites.
One of the benefits of making your tincture is that you can create your custom blend. We usually make a mixture of elderberry and elderberry tincture because they have complementary effects and because the elderberry berries help mask the sharp taste of echinacea. The traditional folk herbal method is the simplest way to prepare the tincture.
Start with a clean jar and fill it halfway with dried echinacea, or if you have fresh plant material, fill the jar 2/3 full. Once you add the herb to the glass, pour the alcohol over it. Add a neutral spirit with about 40% alcohol. Vodka makes the resulting tincture tastier, but you can choose any alcohol with as neutral a taste as possible.
Fill the jar no more than half an inch from the top, completely submerging all the herbal material. Place the lid on the jar and give it a quick shake. Store the jar in a cool, dark place for at least a month, shaking it occasionally. After 1 to 3 months of infusion, it is time to strain the tincture.
Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to filter the herbal material from the alcohol. You will be left with a dark amber-colored liquid with a strong earthy smell. The tincture of Echinacea is a bit harsh, so it is best mixed with water or juice. Store the tincture away from direct sunlight, preferably in amber bottles.
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