Over the coming weeks, I’m going to be addressing some common herbal myths. Let’s get right into the first one:
“Dried herbs cannot be used to make tinctures,” or “It is only safe to use fresh herbs in tincture.”
Frankly, I am not sure where this myth comes from. It must be from inexperienced or armchair herbalists, because it does not bear any weight in reality. Now, it is true that with some herbs, tincturing fresh versus dry will yield different herbal action. Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is a fantastic example of this phenomenon. Tinctured fresh, Skullcap has more of a nervine tonic action whereas tinctured dry, it has more of a sedative action. Another example of a plant that is better tinctured fresh is Milky Oats (Avena sativa). When tinctured dry, it is nowhere near as potent a nervine tonic as when tinctured fresh. However, both examples above are entirely safe to tincture and use dry.
The thing that we always must consider when tincturing fresh plants is their water content. Fresh plant material contains a large amount of water. Any water present in the plant when we tincture it is going to come out into the final product. This dilutes the potency and makes it a less effective medicine. The excess water content can also cause the tincture to ferment or mold, raising safety concerns (for both of these reasons, I use a higher alcohol content menstruum to extract fresh plants than I do for dried plants). An herb that is a good example of this is Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum spp.) Solomon’s Seal blows this myth out of the water (teehee). If anyone thinks the “tincture fresh herbs only” myth holds any veracity, I implore you to harvest (responsibly!) or buy some Solomon’s Seal and try to tincture it fresh. You will be left with a soupy mess that is so diluted with water content that it is a far less effective medicine than it is when tinctured dry.
As far as safety is concerned, the issue here isn’t dried versus fresh plant material. The issue is knowledge. Some plants are potentially dangerous to humans regardless of how they are processed and should only be used by a knowledgeable herbalist. Some of these plants include Datura (Datura spp.), Aconite (Aconitum spp.), and Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) – all of which are fantastic medicines, but must be processed and used carefully in low, controlled doses.
So there really is no general rule that says tincturing dried plant material is more dangerous or less effective than using fresh plant material. When thinking of herbal myths like these, what it comes down to is knowledge and experience of the herbalist. Inexperienced herbalists who learn online without a mentor are prone to make mistakes (some of which can be dangerous). There is a reason that herbalism has traditionally been passed down via a mentor/mentee relationship for thousands of years, and part of the reason is safety. That isn’t to say that online herbal schools are useless. They can be quite good, but if you are considering one, make sure you do your research. If the school does not provide open lines of communication with the teachers and a mentor for each student, don’t waste your time or money.
**One final piece of very important information to know about herbalists is that we are NOT doctors. We are not allowed to diagnose any condition or prescribe any medication. My services are never meant to replace that of a medical doctor, and I will never suggest you leave your physician’s care or stop taking a medication without first consulting them. **
