Homemade Herbal Tinctures?

[mamadrama]

As my lungs become extremely irritated by cigarette smoke, I'm currently looking into the possibility of using a "water pipe" (or "hookah") to give it a try, as it "cools" the smoke before inhalation.

Hmm, keep me posted on this, ok?

My next "herbal" experiment is to try making "shampoo" out of all of the Soapwort that's blooming everywhere now.

I've never made shampoo and can't find much on Soapwort so please let me know how it goes.

 

[bedower]

PepperFritz,

'Culpeper's Complete Herbal' by Nicholas Culpeper is another mine of information. It deals with the making of distillations, tinctures and ointments from hundreds of herbs. The fully illustrated edition would be the best.

Let us know how you get on with your 'water pipe'.

 

[Pierre]

I have read so many different recipes on the internet. Some insist that you MUST use 100-proof grain alcohol, which we do not have access to here in Canada

Hi PepperFritz,

I don't exactly know how it works in Canada, but in France, a solution to get some high percentage alcohol is to go to the druggists who usually sells some 50% (100 proof), 70%, 90%,... alcohol.

Theorically those kind of alcohols are used to treat wounds (and that what should be said to the druggist) but they can also be used for tinctures, home made bewerage, etc.

I hope it can help.

 

[PepperFritz]

I don't exactly know how it works in Canada, but in France, a solution to get some high percentage alcohol is to go to the druggists who usually sells some 50% (100 proof), 70%, 90%,... alcohol. Theorically those kind of alcohols are used to treat wounds (and that what should be said to the druggist) but they can also be used for tinctures, home made bewerage, etc.

Surely you're not suggesting that one use isopropanol (rubbing) alcohol? That's the only "alcohol" druggists sell here, and that stuff is poisonous taken internally, even in small amounts....

 

[Pierre]

I don't exactly know how it works in Canada, but in France, a solution to get some high percentage alcohol is to go to the druggists who usually sells some 50% (100 proof), 70%, 90%,... alcohol. Theorically those kind of alcohols are used to treat wounds (and that what should be said to the druggist) but they can also be used for tinctures, home made bewerage, etc.

Surely you're not suggesting that one use isopropanol (rubbing) alcohol? That's the only "alcohol" druggists sell here, and that stuff is poisonous taken internally, even in small amounts....

No I was suggesting the use of ethanol. Because of its antibacterial property, you can find this kind of alcohol at the druggist (at least at the French ones).

 

[PepperFritz]

No I was suggesting the use of ethanol. Because of its antibacterial property, you can find this kind of alcohol at the druggist (at least at the French ones).

Not available at Canadian pharmacies, I'm afraid. We have very strict laws regarding the sale of alcohol. Any drinkable alcohol can only be purchased through government outlets, and the highest alcohol content allowed is 40%.