Herbalism has always been a way of remembering. It’s how our ancestors listened to the land and learned to care, to restore, to live in rhythm with something greater than themselves.
That knowing never disappeared. It waits for us in the scent of leaves, in the way roots reach for water, in the small rituals we keep alive with our hands.
To practice herbalism is to return to a relationship—not just with the earth, but with the part of ourselves that still remembers how to listen.
The Everyday Alchemy of Herbalism
Making tinctures begins with curiosity. With a handful of herbs, you start to notice how each plant feels, smells, and behaves. Some crumble easily, others resist. Some scent the air immediately, others reveal themselves slowly.
It’s a practice that teaches patience and attention, but also invites experimentation. You measure, pour, shake, taste, observe. You notice patterns in the plants, in yourself, and in the world around you. Each tincture is different; each one tells its own story.
This is herbalism in motion. Tradition is present, not as rules, but as guidance. Recipes passed down, methods honed over centuries, all here to be adapted, explored, and felt.
By the time the tincture is ready, it carries more than its ingredients. It carries your hands, your choices, your curiosity. And in that small act of making, something changes. You understand a little more about the plants, about yourself, and about the soft ways the world teaches us if we pay attention.
Tincture Recipe and Potency Calculator
Whether it’s your first tincture or your fiftieth, the Tincture Recipe and Potency Calculator is here to make the process feel effortless and precise. Enter a few simple details, and it will show you exactly how much herb and alcohol to use, the right herb-to-alcohol ratio, and the final strength of your tincture, so you can focus on the hands-on, creative part of herbalism.
For those who love to experiment, Advanced Mode opens the door to even more possibilities: custom serving sizes, exact extraction percentages, and detailed herb concentrations. It’s a tool that gives you control, without taking away the joy of discovery.
Standard Mode
Shows you exactly how much alcohol to use, the right herb-to-alcohol ratio, and the final strength of your tincture.
Advanced Mode
Gives you full control over your tincture experience. You can adjust serving sizes, create multi-herb formulas, and see exactly how much of each herb is in every serving.
Tincture Ratio Chart
Our Tincture Recipe and Potency Calculator is a way to get to know your herbs more closely. Every dropperful (1 mL) tells how much plant is actually there, how strong it is, and how it might work for you. Use it to experiment, refine, and craft your own tinctures, or simply to understand the strength of ones you’ve purchased. The numbers aren’t just measurements, but clues, invitations to pay attention, to notice, and to learn.
For a quick glance, the chart below shows the amount of dried herb in a standard 1 mL serving, based on common extraction ratios.
Tincture-to-Dried Herb Ratio Chart |
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|---|---|---|
| Extraction Ratio | Serving Size | Amount of Dried Herb |
| 1:10 | 1 mL | 100 mg (0.1 g) |
| 1:5 | 1 mL | 200 mg (0.2 g) |
| 1:3 | 1 mL | 333 mg (0.33 g) |
| 1:2 | 1 mL | 500 mg (0.5 g) |
| 1:1 | 1 mL | 1,000 mg (1.0 g) |
| 2:1* | 1 mL | 2,000 mg (2.0 g) |
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* If you see a tincture claiming an extraction ratio of 2:1 or higher (like 5:1 or 10:1), take a moment to check that it’s made from whole herbs, not extract powders. Tinctures made from powders aren’t the same. They don’t carry the same depth, complexity, or traditional value that comes from using the whole plant. |
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Download a printable PDF version of this quick reference chart.
Before You Begin: A Few Words on Responsible Wildcrafting and Sourcing
Whether you are out in the wild gathering herbs or sourcing them from someone who knows them well, take a moment to notice the plants. Feel their weight, their scent, the life they have carried before reaching you. Doing this doesn’t just protect the plants. It draws you into a deeper rhythm with the earth and with the ways it teaches and restores.
Keep this in mind as you gather your materials and prepare your tinctures:
- Know Your Source – Choose herbs from suppliers you trust, those who care about the plants as much as you do. If you are buying cultivated herbs, organic is the way to go.
- Harvest Responsibly – When you gather herbs from the wild, take only what you need. Let the rest remain. Try not to take more than 10% of any plant population—it matters.
- Respect the Ecosystem – Move gently. Use methods that keep the land and its creatures thriving. Protect biodiversity, and the balance will protect you in return.
- Avoid Endangered and Threatened Species – Some plants are too rare to touch. Learn to recognize them, and let them be. Their survival matters more than any recipe.
- Educate Yourself – Learn the plants. Their stories, their roles in nature, their place in human tradition. Knowledge deepens connection.
By choosing with intention, you do more than protect plants. You honor the ecosystems that hold them, and the quiet work that sustains all of us.
Tincture Making FAQs
Q: How long should my tincture sit before it’s ready to use?
Tinctures usually need a few weeks to come alive, to draw out everything the herb has to give. Give the jar a little shake each day. Let the ingredients mingle, let the plant share its gifts fully.
Q: Can I use fresh herbs instead of dried herbs?
Fresh herbs can absolutely be used, but they hold more water than dried herbs, so the ratio needs a little adjustment. Usually, you’ll need about twice as much fresh herb to get the same effect. Our calculator takes care of the details for you, whether your herbs are fresh or dried, so you can focus on the craft instead of the numbers.
Q: How is this different from the folk method of tincture making?
The folk way of making tinctures is simple. You fill a jar with herbs, pour the alcohol, and trust your hands to know when it’s enough. There’s a certain beauty in that. But if you want consistency—if you want each batch to carry the same strength and intention—it helps to measure. Using a clear herb-to-menstruum ratio brings steadiness to the process. It makes your tonic reliable, again and again.
Q: Can I use the calculator for making Pine Pollen tinctures?
Yes. Turning Pine Pollen into a tincture helps unlock what’s inside it. The alcohol breaks down its tough outer walls, releasing the nutrients so your body can take them in more easily. It’s a way of honoring the plant’s strength while allowing its gifts to move through you more freely.
Follow the calculator’s steps to guide you through a clean, accurate extraction.
Q: Can this calculator be used for making Chaga or Reishi tinctures?
Absolutely. Tincturing lets the mushrooms open up. It breaks through their tough cell walls, releasing everything that’s been held inside—their strength, their essence, their story. Start with powdered or crushed Chaga or Reishi, and use the calculator to guide your extraction.
Q: Can I use this calculator for other types of extractions?
Yes. This calculator was designed for alcohol-based tinctures made with whole herbs, fresh or dried. Still, you can adapt it for other extractions that use a similar weight-to-volume method.
It’s not meant for oil-based preparations or refined extracts like powders and isolates. Those follow a different rhythm, a different kind of formulation altogether.
Q: What alcohol concentration (proof) is best for tinctures?
A balance of 40% alcohol and 60% water holds just the right harmony. Strong enough to draw out what needs to be drawn, gentle enough to preserve what should stay whole.
Q: How should I store my tinctures?
Keep your tinctures where time can be gentle with them. Dark glass, a cool shelf, somewhere quiet and away from the sun. Light and heat can steal what the plants have given. With care, their strength will stay with you for years.
Q: How long do tinctures last?
When cared for properly, alcohol tinctures can last a lifetime. The spirit within them—quite literally—keeps their strength alive. Years may pass, seasons may change, but their strength remains, waiting for the moment they’re needed again.
Q: Can I use different types of alcohol for tincturing?
You can work with spirits like vodka, brandy, or rum—just make sure they’re at least 80 proof (40% alcohol). That strength allows the alcohol to pull out what water alone cannot, capturing the full essence of the plant.
Wine can be used, too, but it tells a different story. It won’t draw out as much from the herbs and it won’t keep as long. If you do choose wine, follow a guide made for infusions like that. This one was written for spirit-based tinctures.
Q: Can this calculator be used for making glycerin tinctures?
This calculator is made for alcohol-based tinctures. If you’re working with glycerin, the process is different—and not suitable for all extractions. You can learn more about that in our guide to making glycerin and glycerite tinctures.
Q: How can I make a gluten-free tincture?
Most distilled spirits, like vodka, are naturally free of gluten. The distillation itself strips it away. Still, some bottles pick it back up through added flavorings or other ingredients along the way. If you’re sensitive or living with celiac, reach for alcohol that’s certified gluten-free. It’s a small choice that makes a difference, and one that lets you enjoy the ritual without worry.
Q: How do I use my tincture?
Tinctures ask for just a few drops at a time. The right amount depends on the plant, the strength of the extract, and what your body is asking for. Learn the nature of each herb you’re working with and let that guide your dose. If you want to go deeper, read our guide to using and taking tinctures.
Further Reading and Resources
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