tincture

A tincture is a solution in which a solute, typically a botanical or mineral substance, is dissolved in an alcoholic solvent. In pharmacology and herbalism, tinctures are alcoholic extracts produced by soaking plant material in ethanol or hydroalcoholic mixtures to concentrate active constituents.

Preparation generally involves maceration or percolation. Plant material is submerged in a suitable menstruum, often ethanol or a hydroalcoholic blend, sometimes with water to modulate polarity. Ethanol is the common solvent because it efficiently dissolves both lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds. Alternatives include glycerin (glycerites) or vinegar for alcohol-aversant preparations.

Herbal tinctures are the most common type, used to extract flavors and active constituents. Other tinctures include tinctures of iodine or benzoin, which are mineral or chemical preparations dissolved in alcohol for topical use or antiseptic applications. In traditional medicine, tinctures are dosed in standardized drop counts or volume measures.

Concentration is traditionally described by the ratio of dry material to menstruum, such as 1:5 (one part plant to five parts solvent). Modern labeling often indicates the ethanol percentage and may specify the tincture’s strength or standardization. Tinctures are generally stored in tightly sealed, dark bottles to protect from light and loss of potency and have relatively long shelf lives when kept cool.

Historically, tinctures have been used since antiquity as convenient, preservable liquid extracts. They were central to apothecary practice and remain common in herbal and home medicinal traditions, as well as in some food flavorings.