DIY: Immunity Tincture

The fall of 2022 was rough for a lot of families.  Every time I scrolled through my newsfeed on social media or talked to friends…it seemed like someone was sick — often several people.

There are varying theories on why that is, but honestly, it doesn’t matter.  What does matter is what we do about it.  Regardless of what’s going around…we could all use more immune support! 

We created this tincture using the folk method (which means we didn’t measure; we eyeballed it) to use for my family.  We chose a handful of herbs that are really beneficial for daily immune support as well as rich in vitamins and minerals. We used a glycerin base so it would be sweet and easy to use (and because that helps to extract the water-soluble vitamins and minerals I was looking for).

Why a tincture?  It’s a shelf-stable, super-concentrated extract that is really convenient (and very bioavailable).  You can keep it in my bathroom cabinet or next to your bed so it’s in my sight and you don’t forget to use it!

Immunity Tincture

About the herbs we chose for this tincture:

• Dandelion leaf — Rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals; good for liver support
• Astragalus root — Supports the immune system and helps reduce stress
• Elderflower — Supports the immune and lymphatic systems
• Echinacea angustifolia root — Promotes immunity, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral
• Amla berries — Rich in vitamin C, anti-inflammatory
• Ginger root — Anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, promotes gut health

Of course, you can choose other options if you prefer.  Lemon balm, ashwagandha root, schisandra, reishi mushroom, or rhodiola would also be good options.  We had to go with what was on hand.  Astragalus was definitely a must-use!

Since this is the folk method and we didn’t measure, we used roughly 1 part of each herb (about 1/4 cup by volume).

Directions:

Step 1: Add each herb to a clean pint-sized mason jar.

Step 2: Mix 1/2 cup warm filtered water and 3/4 cup organic glycerin; stir well.

Step 3: Pour the glycerin-water mix into the jar with the herbs; tap or stir it so the liquid mixes in.  Top it off.

Step 4: Shake well.

Step 5: At this point, you can put the jar in a crock pot filled with water for about 3 days (keep adding new water to keep the bottom of the crock pot covered and leave it on low heat), or put the jar in a cool, dry place for 4 – 6 weeks.

Step 6: After it has steeped, strain it through cheesecloth or a French press, reserving the liquid to a freshly cleaned jar and compost the herbs.

Using the Tincture

This tincture is meant to be used daily.  The more regularly it is used, the better it will work.  (Potential caution for those with autoimmune disorders — ongoing use of echinacea or elderflower may cause a flare.  But, it can also be balancing for some — so you’ll have to see how you feel.)

Suggested dosages:

• Ages 6 mo. – 2 years: 1 – 2 drops
• 3 – 6 years: 4 – 5 drops
• 6 – 12 years: 5 – 10 drops
• 13+ years: 10 – 20 drops

You can adjust these dosages up or down depending on your needs.  Some people notice big changes from even tiny doses, while others may need much more to get the desired effect.  Some adults may need as much as 40 – 60 drops per day.

It might feel intimidating if you’ve never made a tincture before.  We promise it’s not hard at all!  You can watch Kate (along with her 9-year-old’s help!) make the tincture.  It goes quickly.  You can do this!