We are constantly looking for remedies to health concerns. Many of us are interested in, or have already had success using natural ingredients and products, like essential oils. Learning more about tinctures for sleep and digestion may help you overcome some of these challenging health issues.
What is a Tincture?
A tincture is a very concentrated liquid extract made from herbs and alcohol (many times vodka is used) or vinegar. Generally, tinctures are made by soaking the herbs in alcohol for an extended period of time.
After several weeks, it is strained, leaving behind the concentrated liquid. Tinctures are typically stored in a dark amber glass dropper bottle.
Tinctures can be made from one type of herb, or a combination. While it is possible to make a homemade tincture, they are generally available in health food stores and online.
How To Take Tinctures
How you ingest tinctures is completely up to you! Some people apply drops underneath their tongue and let it sit for about a minute and a half, while others may put their dosage in a couple of ounces of water and drink it down.
A typical one-ounce bottle of tincture will come with a dropper top and a glass pipette inside. Keep in mind that a standard dose is usually 1-2 squirts, three times each day. A “squirt” is one pump of the bulb (about half of the dropper). This is just the standard dose, so check the label or ask the vendor what the proper dosage is for your specific tincture.
Like other medications, it will take some trial and error to find the right dosage for you. Listen to your body and use caution when taking herbs, due to potential side effects and allergies. It is always best to visit with a practitioner that is knowledgeable in alternative medicine and herbs before adding a tincture to your health routine.
Tinctures for Sleep and Digestion
If you have been struggling with insomnia or restless sleep, then look for tinctures that contain chamomile, lavender, or passionflower.
Chamomile is one of the most popular herbs used today. It contains bisabolol oxides, matricin, and bisabolol. These oils are responsible for the healing properties that the plant contains. Chamomile has been shown to help relieve stress and depression which is just one of the ways that it is so helpful for sleep.
Chamomile also assists with digestive discomfort including diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea, constipation, and stomach pain. It has also been shown to help with congestion and is a natural pain reliever. Chamomile is actually a fantastic choice to help treat many issues.
Lavender is widely known for its relaxing benefits for good reason. The healing constituents include linalool, linalyl acetate, terpinen, camphor, and cineole. Lavender can relieve stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, assists in wound healing, and helps with hair growth.
Passionflower is a gentle sedative and makes a great choice for anyone needing help with sleep issues. In addition to helping insomnia, passionflower helps with anxiety, helps with memory loss, assists in lowering blood pressure, and alleviates pain.
Other Helpful Tinctures
Garlic
Did you know that garlic is a member of the lily family and may possibly help with many ailments? Some of the health benefits include:
- Anti-carcinogenic
- Cardiovascular benefits
- Promotes circulatory health
- Helps stabilize blood sugar
- Assists in cleansing liver
- Natural antibiotic
- Relieves congestion
- Cough Remedy
Milk Thistle
This herb is actually a weed that grows in warm climates. Milk thistle contains several phytochemicals including flavonolignans, isosilibinin, silymarin, silydianin, and betaine. Also, it contains several vitamins including vitamin E and vitamin C. The benefits of milk thistle may include:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Increases bile production
- Helps detoxify the body
Saw Palmetto
This comes from the palm tree and is native to the West Indies. The active ingredients include flavonoids, fatty acids, and plant sterols. Saw palmetto may help with:
- Reduce the risk of prostate cancer
- Treats urinary tract infections
- Treats colds
- Assists in reducing asthma and bronchitis symptoms
- Increases libido
The Takeaway
People have used plant tinctures as herbal remedies for hundreds of years. Many plants have proven health benefits, but other plant benefits may still be up in the air. Some tinctures and herbs may have adverse reactions when coupled with certain medications, so be sure and talk to your doctor about introducing herbs into your health regimen.
Now that we’ve talked about tincture usage and tinctures for sleep and digestion, let’s look at five herbs to improve skin health.
