How to Make a Calming Tincture

It's easy to turn to pharmaceuticals for relief in today's stressed-out, sleep-deprived society. But these can be habit-forming or have unpleasant side effects. The earth offers another solution: the many plants and herbs possessing natural calming and sleep-inducing properties. One tried-and-true way to take herbs is in tincture (concentrated liquid) form, which is potent, long-lasting and easily controlled, so you can even use it for children and pets.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup each dried herb:
• - catnip
• - chamomile
• - oatstraw
• - passionflower
• 2 tablespoons hops
• Enough apple cider vinegar to cover herbs
• Knife
• Quart jar with airtight lid
• Strainer or cheesecloth
• Small, dark-glass bottles with dropper lids

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Instructions

Mix calming herbs for tincture

• 1

  Mix the catnip, chamomile, oatstraw, passionflower and hops together, and chop them coarsely. Place them in a sterile 1-quart glass jar.

• 2

  Add apple cider vinegar up to 1/2 inch from the top of the jar. The liquid must completely cover the herbs. You can also use a mixture of equal parts water and vodka or rum, but apple cider vinegar has health benefits of its own and is safer for children.

• 3

  Tightly close the jar. Shake it, then place it in a cool dark place for two to six weeks, shaking it once a day.

• 4

  Pour the liquid through a strainer or cheesecloth, leaving the spent herbs behind. Squeeze the herbs to get every drop of liquid out of them.

• 5

  Put the tincture in small, dark-glass bottles with dropper lids. Apple cider vinegar tinctures will keep for up to a year in the refrigerator. Alcohol tinctures do not require refrigeration and can last for several years. You can heat the alcohol tincture in the jar for a few minutes and much of the alcohol will evaporate. Dosages vary but the rule of thumb is 30 drops under the tongue for an adult, 10 for a child.