How to make Your Own Lemon Balm Tincture
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- www.melissawest.com/lemon-balm...
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So first of all you are probably wondering what is a tincture? A tincture is concentrated herbal extract created by soaking herbs in alcohol over a period of time. The tincture draws out the essential compounds of plants allowing you to use the nutrients from herbs and preserve them over a long period of time. The benefits of creating a tincture in a climate like Canada where our lemon balm will be covered over in snow in a couple of months allows us to use the herbs year round, makes them easy to store, allows them to be easily absorbed, and you can easily add them to juices and teas if they prove unpalatable. They also give herbs a stable and long shelf life (5 years!)
Lemon Balm Tincture Recipe
So first of all you will need alcohol. Vodka is best because it is odorless and colorless. It needs to be 80 proof or 40% alcohol to prevent mildewing of your lemon balm in your mason jars.
Get a mason jar and screw on lid. Make sure they are clean and sterilized. Running them through the dishwasher will sterilize them or you can boil them in water on the stove top.
I filled my mason jars with lemon balm pushing them down with a wooden spoon to release the essential oils. Cover the lemon balm with alcohol.
Seal the container and put it in a cool dark area for 1 month.
Shake the mixture occasionally.
After a month you can strain your mixture using a strainer or a nut milk bag. Then start the process again for another month for a doubly strong lemon balm tincture. You can top up your lemon balm with fresh alcohol if you need a little more liquid to cover your fresh lemon balm leaves.
After another month you can strain your mixture and funnel your tincture into small glass bottles with dropper lids. This is ideal for dispensing your lemon balm.
Lemon balm is known to be beneficial for anxiety, depression, stress, flatulence, indigestion and insomnia. - Jak na to + styl
Dosage: 5-30 drops for relaxation, especially at bedtime. Do not use if pregnant. This is not medical advice. I am not a medical doctor.
Is it not just so sad that you have to say this. Too bad commercials about pharmakia are just fine. Maybe thats what you should do is throw all your disclaimers in at the end at half volume and double speed. I don't see warnings like this on freeclimbing videos, stuntman videos, driving videos, phizer videos, those are all very dangerous. Lemon balm is beautiful. Full of health and life. People should be warned about not knowing this plant.
They say lemon balm really is the ELEXIAR OF LIFE PROLONGING OUR LIVES
interesting James :)
I'm so lucky to have found this beautiful plant in my front garden. 💚Il be making mine tomorrow
good stuff to rid ones body of anxiety cool teaching ,,,will share ,,,, just the way you teach helps people keep up awesome work
thank you Ron
Thank you. I love the double strength method! It's fun playing the witch sometimes!
Glad you enjoy it!
What a great idea, I just grabbed a small plant and will defiantly be trying this.
Thanks for the video :)
+pat stix let me know how it works out.
love your energy and vibe.
thanks
I'm discovering lemon balm...thanks for the video. You do a nice job sharing the info.
thanks Gail :)
Wow Melissa you are so patient answering the comments when people keep asking the same questions over and over again. Well done !
:)
Thanks! You're a delight!
Love this ! Thank you so much ! Going to sterilize my jars and get busy ! I can't wait ! Blessings !
Wonderful!
Thank you, other lemon balm videos just keep showing you the plant and talking for the whole of the video . This is the best....
glad it helped Tom :)
It's funny. Your name is Melissa and in the language I speak lemon balm is called melisa.
+hellzBrother isn't that funny
How much alcohol did you put in the first tincture?
what's your language? in my language it's called Melissa as well.
Maria Rigodanzo its called melissa because i think thats its scientific name
Right, indeed it is called Melissa in the States too and in the Middle East, because as Kathryn mentioned above is that the botanical name is in fact Melissa officinalis.....I work in the essential oils/fragrance industries...great video Dr. Melissa.
You were such a pleasure to watch haha, I love your goofiness and your ability to still get your point across!! Thank you for this recipe!
You are so welcome! Just being me LOL :)
What a charming DIY video! Also thanks for sharing the double infusion method. I've only made singles. Can't wait for next summer.
you're so welcome :)
Where I do get the bottles from to put the lemon balm tincture
What are the benefits of a double infusion? Would you than use less drops or sprays?
@@jacquelynhinds6220 Yes, I think so
I love your video. Very informative. Keep them coming.
Thank you! Will do Linda!
Apparently you can make alcohol free tinctures with vegetable glycerin, apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar. You will also need to make sure that you use 100% vegetable glycerin or food grade distilled white vinegar when making a non-alcoholic herbal tincture. Hope that helps :)
A tincture is ONLY a tincture cuz it's made with 80 proof alcohol or higher. If it's made with anything else.... it's an extract. Extracts contain same properties generally speaking but may be slightly weaker depending on what you're using as a liquid. But you can only classify something as a tincture as being made in alcohol. Plus it's better if you dry the herb first then make tincture/extract. You release all the water from the herb and concentrate the beneficial properties of the herb when you dehydrate it. Water from fresh herbs can somtimes interfere with the process depending on what you're making.
Thank you! I just started drinking lemon balm tea because it is taking over my entire garden bed! Holy moly! If you guys don't want it EVERYWHERE, find a spot it can take over or grow it in pots. Mine has taken over everything. So I'll make use of it. Lol. I'm thrilled to have come across this video. I look forward to making some tinctures and have some for me and some for fun gifts to hand out.
Great tip!
I have lemon balm in my back yard and this year from nowhere started growing many bone set plants and others which are good for pain but I don't recall their names now.
cool
I like the video another good thing to do is put parchment paper on the lid before screwing it on. That will help the alcohol from absorbing the lid.
I also use organic grain alcohol:)
if i forgot the parchment paper should i open the tincture to put some ? i made it 4 days ago
Actually grain alcohol will make it stronger and some people get ill from it
I love making my own herbal teas next im onto this for medicinal purposes ☺
me too :)
If I want to speed up the infusion process can I use a "cooking" method where I use heat with a temp at 190 or below?
Thank you for sharing. How do use this stuff?
Very helpful. Thank you so much.
Glad it was helpful!
Omg I stumbled upon your video. Not only are you a great and detailed teacher but funny as hell.... Your calmness and sense of humor reminds me of my beautiful friend Soula 😁
Wow, thank you!
I agree, loved your teaching.
I've been fixing a lemon balm tea for my son, who has hyperthyroidism. So far, so good. He's been taking it am and pm, for the past 3-4 months now.
make sure he is also taking prescribed meds I love lemon balm but it wont treat it by itself:)
@evildom8825 Oh yeah, he is still receiving his 2.5mg a day. Hopefully, we will begin a new dosing schedule of every other day, weaning him off. Thanks for your reply! 😀
awesome video, thank you!!!
Kinga Dupuis glad it helped :) :)
Hi that was very informative... What is the best dose rate?
I make lemon balm tea the entire growing season. A tincture would be good for making a winter drink.
awesome
Oh yeah one more QQ..
How much of the tincture do you tend to take?
(I know this varies, but curious about what you have done that has yielded benefit?)
Thank you
I use either organic american vodka (gf) or potatoes polish vodka (I know for a fact they use close to organic - according to american standards - potatoes from small villages in Europe as are much cheaper) and let the plants macerate for 3 to 6 months, with no less than that.I have many tinctures that we,as a family, use on a daily basis ,but not lemon balm.It will be next on my list,which is most likely tomorrow.
Btw,I love the video and your spirit!!!
thank you so much :) hope you enjoy the lemon balm
Wow, a Yoga doctor!!! Never new about!
You are informative and adorable!!! Thank you!
+Arlene H. Thanks Arlene
+Arlene H. Thanks Arlene
+Arlene H. Thanks Arlene
Hello and thank you for your video, do you know how to make a ticture without alcohol?
how do you take the single strength or the dbl strength how many drops should you take or should you mix it to take it or can you take the drops straight from the bottle?
You have the perfect charm and corizma to be super successful in the spotlight
Ha! Now I have a use for all that Lemon Balm growing in my backyard! It's also an anti-viral so should be useful for the flu season. I heard it can help shorten a 4 day flu into a 2 day thing.
Maybe you can use this tincture to make hard candy and use as a cough drop for colds?
Hi! Thank you for the video! My question is are you washing/rinsing the lemon balm prior to making tincture? I have dogs that may have “visited” the plant so can I was it before making this?
I highly recommend washing the lemon balm for sure :)
glad I read the comments bc I really thought u were talking about rubbing alcohol...sorry I'm new to this. I'm growing herbs for the 1st time and just looking for info...
Study a lot before ingestion. Herbs are potent and can/will cause harm like any other substance. Opium and cocoa are all natural
vodka works great :)
always wise to study and consult a doctor :)
Is it best to store the final tincture in a dark coloured bottle, I am assuming?
Thanks for the great video. Enjoyed watching it!
Very informative! I'm growing some in my herb garden and will definitely do this up. Thank you!!
+Plopnod you're so welcome.
You are adorable! I have no idea where lemon balm grows where I live. I hoping I can just buy the plant at home depot!
It grows like a weed so be careful :)
Loved this video l am on it Thank you.!!
You are so welcome
I am gonna try this double method because I need strong to knock this speedy, anxiety person out. Thanks can’t wait to try this. Another lady added honey which may be a good idea since I hate Vodka.
you won't notice the vodka...it's just to hold the goodness :)
So you don't have to refrigerate this once it's opened after the 1 month absorption period?
Looks easy
it really is...let me know how it works out for you Henriette :)
So glad to discover Lemon Balm and its many curative properties. Is giddiness😁also one of its benefits? no depression, sadness or anxiety evident in this video. Hopefully many people will discover and recapture the joy of happiness from nature and avoid the pitfalls of resorting to pill-popping. Wishing all the blessing of good health🇺🇸
Thank you .........
you're welcome Mary Ann :)
You do not mention with the single make or the dbl strength how many drop you should use or mix with what and how to take it or even wether one can take the drops straight from the bottle?
hello. just wanna ask, which is better, fresh balm or the dried ones. because I've seen lot's of videos using dried leaves
I prefer fresh :)
Hi!! Is it normal for the tincture to still smell like the alcohol? TIA!
Hi no clue i im gonna get an answer but i didnt find anything online about double tinctures? I just strained my first ever echinacae tincture but dont find it strong enough! Its already in all the little bottles, can i start a new tincture with it tomorrow? Thank you!!
not sure I understand the question Reina....can you ask it a different way?
Hi, love your video.. I was looking on how to make lemon balm essential oil and found you.. how is tincture different than essential oil? so once you let the tincture set for the appropriate time, how exactly will you use it.. I have heard via dr oz lemon balm oil if put on early stages makes cold sores go away..
Lysine clears up cold sores. Just take some for 4-5 days.
Just found this. Thank you . Question have you ever used your tinctures in homemade soap, lotions or body wash? Can you?
I haven't but if you try it and it works do let me know :)
Hello, can I squeeze the remaining leaves of the old tincture to extract more of the juice that the leaves absorb ? Or those leaves are just to be discarded ?
Big thanks from India 🇮🇳
I typically discard as getting more is easy and more productive :)
How much of the tincture do you use each time. I guess I mean how many mgs?
Thanks for the video, gave it thumbs up! Quick question... what kind of alcohol do you use?
vodka :)
what dosage should be taken?
Can make this without alcohol?
The ratio i was always told was 1:5. One part herb and 5 parts alcohol.. vodka or brandy!. And 2 weeks sit in a dark cool place. And shake every day or 2 for a few mins.
I have made this before- put as much herb as your container allows-dark cool place for 2 months.
lol could it be the Vodka helping with the sleep, either way I'm all for it
No, I use a glycerin form and it definitely helps me sleep.
You can just eat the leaves raw no alcohol involved
What is the dosage for tincture drops? Also any other recipes, thanks
About 30-60 drops from a dropper a couple times a day. Or 1 tsp(4 ml) in 1/4 cup of water 3 times a day. I always forget and end up taking it once
Hey there, I was wondering if I would be able to use dry Lemon Balm to make this tincture. If so/If not, would this be the same with other herbs of the mint family..?
+Anthony Renteria-Vigil I actually answered my own question through the comments, Thanks!
What did you do with leaves from the first brew?
wisconsinwalter just threw them in the green bin for recycling
Tysvm🙏
~Namaste💫
namaste
You bring smile on my face. You are so nice. Than you for very good video. I was looking for a good nice video for beginers.. making tincture. i will use your tips..for making my melissa tincutre for a very first time. Thank you for your contagious laugh ;) Greetings from Slovenia- Europe
How much of the lemon balm tinted do you take
After pouring tincture in dark bottle with dropper. What do I do with leftover lemon balm leaves?
compost :)
amazing doc!! you can make it even more powerful by blending before straining every time ;) you will get more out of it too
+phoenix rises thanks for the tip!
LivingYourYogaTV np at all beautiful lady thanks for the vid i did it this way yesterday my self , i used lemon balm mint and plantain ginger turmeric nutmeg and cinnamon , all medicinal plants so we will see how good mine is with all that in it , id love to test it on so,e sick people but i keep fixing them all haahahah
Im growing lemon balm . When you harvest did you rinse and drain it before putting it in the jars for the tincture? Thanky❤
Yes I did :)
How take the tincture
Lovely😊
Many many thanks
You need to use dark bottles so your tincture doesn't lose it's potency over time.
thank you :)
You make them in canning jars but store in dark bottles. Her bottle is dark she put it in. Just keep the canning ones in a dark place.
That's correct @Melanie Renee, you don't have to refrigerate tinctures, the alcohol is what preserves it. :)
Can the same procedure be used for lemon tree leaves?
I'm not sure :)
Would I use the very same process with vegetable glycerin?
not sure :(
So my question is a
fter 30 days do you drink it ? Also what to you do with the leaves that have already been soaking?
I wait the 30 days and then I just use what I need (dump the leaves) :)
Yoga Lifestyle with Melissa awesome thank you. One more question. How much to you take. A teaspoonful etc?
Could I run the leaves through the food processor?
Do you need to wash it??
Do you rinse it and let it dry first or do you use it directly from the garden?
I do clean it
If one is allergic to the alcohol what else can I use ? Would avocado oils....work?
thanks for the information, nice work, I have seen people first cover the herb with boiling water then add rest of alcohol, have you used this method and what do you think about this method?
I've only tried the method in the video :)
That would be fine for many dry herbs but when it's fresh, and it's mint which already has a high water content. You wouldn't want to do that, you would have a lot less alcohol content and that's what allows it to keep longer.
What do you now do with the lemon balm from the first mixture? Can you reuse it for something else - if so what?
I don't reuse it...recycle :)
Could I used dried lemon balm as well?
sure can :)
Thank you.
I have tons. I love it. At 60 I need this haa haha 😄
You are so welcome!
Never used tinctures before how do you use them? Do you drink it or use it topically?
you can use them either way but typically under the tongue :)
How much? How often? Would you reccommend.
Hello -- I have a couple of questions!
1.) What size is your mason jar? 2.) How much lemon balm did you putting in (roughly)? 3.) How many drops of tincture should a person take based on the amount you use?
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!
Use any size fill the jar with leaves can even use stems fill with 100 perc vodka ! have 10 or more drops in a tea few times if you need it take more
My lemon balm tincture turned very dark brown. I’m guess it’s oxygenated? Is it bad now?
hahhaha yea it is hard to kill. I dry large quantities of it and store in jars. Its good mixing 50/50 with green tea.
+Dale Hopper good to know thank you for sharing
How do you dry them?
How do you dry them? Did they shrivel up like tea leaves?
@@katrinaharvey9952 one way of drying is by putting in small closet with a dehumidifier. leaves more nutrients in leaves and leaves don't loose as much color
How much to make
Love my lemon balm tea. 🍵 Just heat the water and pour and let it seat , put half tea spoon of Honey , it's so good,,, and the smell ,, it so relaxing . It's so good.,,☺️
Great tip!
How do you make tea with tinctures?
Where did you get your bottles
I recycle the pasta sauce jars :)
ok thanks
please share info on starting dosage amount
typically I use an eye dropper and do a few drops at a time :)
Dosage of the tincture can be small (1-3 drops) to large (10-30 drops)
How much tincture does a person use for things u mentioned
How do you use it once you make it?
under the tongue
I made your recipe! Yay! I made it with everclear. The result is dark green potion and the alcohol is soooo strong! I can hardly take it. Did I do something wrong?
sounds like it's very pure and strong...should be great....under the tongue :)
can you use rubbing alchol instead of vodka
maybe...I would stick to Vodka
I am making this tincture for my sister-in- law. She has several issues, waking during the night, Alzheimer’s, seizures, which she takes meds for, so I am trying this to see what affects it has for her.
She is in an assisted living and her doc. Says she can take it. Have you heard anything about it helping with Alzheimer’s?
Thx for vid. How actually do u use though? Smell it, table spoon?
teaspoon can work :) but usually just drops (droplets)
The containers that tinctures usually come in have dropper/lids. The dosage varies depending on the ailment and the person but it can be anything from 5 drops to 45 drops multiple times a day. I would look for local naturalists to take classes if this is something you are interested in. It is a whole new world and you will find that plants and food is indeed the only medicine we need. Well, in most cases anyway....
Sorry,is it normal for the tincture to still smell like alcohol after the waiting process? After i let it sit for over month and strained it, it still has a strong alcohol smell?
+Jocelyn Manley I'm sorry but that wasn't my experience perhaps the choice of alcohol is the issue?
Yoga Lifestyle with Melissa maybe . I will try another. What brand did you use?
Don't have Lemon Balm BUT I do have a LOT of Chocolate Mint. Yumm.
yummy :)
Good question. What do you do with it? Drink it ? And in what dilution. Or use it topically.
I have chocolate mint and lemon balm too. Can you make a tincture with chocolate mint too like this? And what do we do with the leaves after pouring out the liquid? Toss them??