Tinctures are relatively easy to make and have a significantly longer shelf life than fresh herbs.
For this reason, and since we can’t predict future injury or illness, it’s good to have a few different options sitting in your cabinet for use at a moment’s notice.
In many cases, herbal tinctures provide a simple way to support your body as you decide what your next step should be.
So today, we’ve organized some of our favorite most effective tinctures into categories to help you build a diversified stash.
Tinctures to Keep Handy Organized By Category
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Tinctures For Your Skin
Herbal tinctures for skin work their magic from the inside out and give your skin an extraordinary glow. Here are some especially useful skincare tinctures to always have at hand:
Sarsaparilla root
This herb is commonly used as flavoring for certain beverages, but it’s actually a widely used tonic in Central America for things like removing impurities that lead to breakouts.
Judging by anecdotal evidence, it seems especially useful for skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and general irritation.
Burdock root
Burdock root is considered a broad-spectrum herb. The Japanese use it as a food additive to manage several conditions. Anecdotal evidence suggests it is especially effective for dry, scaly skin.
When taken internally, it helps cleanse the liver and remove toxins that are often the root cause of skin breakouts.
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Tinctures For Your Immune System
Your immune system needs extra support during certain times of the year when “bugs” are rampant.
Some of the best immune boosters to stock include the following:
Elderberry
Besides being delicious (a plus for kids), elderberry provides natural relief for seasonal colds. That’s thanks to its unique antimicrobial properties that enable it to shorten the duration of certain viruses.
Astragalus
Studies demonstrate that Astragalus extracts stimulate the activity of white blood cells – the cell line responsible for fighting infections in the human body.
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Tinctures for Sleep and Relaxation
After a long day, all you want to do is settle in for a good night’s sleep. But sometimes sleep doesn’t come easy, and it’s hard to “turn your brain off” so to speak.
These are some of our favorite tinctures for times like these:
Chamomile
Some of the better known uses of chamomile include its benefits for sleep issues and anxiety, along with its anti-inflammatory properties.
In fact, it’s even been classified in some studies as a “mild tranquilizer.” Its main active ingredient, apigenin, is the reason for its calming effects.
Valerian root
If you want to sleep easier and alleviate symptoms such as headache and nervousness, valerian root should be your go-to.
This herb has a rich history. In fact, it was used by British soldiers to manage stress and anxiety during World War II.
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Tinctures for Energy
The most popular energy booster worldwide is caffeine. But despite its potential health risks, the use of caffeine continues to increase - mostly because people aren’t aware of better alternatives.
These herbal tinctures have shown to energize as well as caffeine but without many of its side effects:
Panax ginseng
Some people call it “wild ginseng” while others call it “true ginseng.” But when it comes to the therapeutic benefits of this herb, its scientific name gives it away.
The word “Panax” is of Greek origin where ‘pan’ means for all, and ‘axos’ means cure.
So in that regard, especially in traditional Chinese usage, it’s used for everything from memory and concentration to immune function.
But here in the U.S. it’s primarily popular for its energizing ability. You don’t want to use it simultaneously with caffeine though.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha has an herbal history that dates back more than 3000 years. Its therapeutic properties are similar to those of ginseng – so much so that some herbal enthusiasts call it “Indian ginseng.”
One major caveat of ashwagandha is the unpleasant taste of its roots. Nevertheless, its rejuvenating and energy-boosting effects are comparable to Panax ginseng.
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Tinctures for Digestion
Digestion is a complex physiologic process. Sometimes, our “plumbing” doesn’t work properly, and we end up with stomach discomfort, gas, and bloating.
Such symptoms can often be managed with herbal tinctures. Here are a few of the best in this regard:
Artichoke
The use of artichoke as a digestive aid can be traced as far back as the Roman Empire. Even the pupils of Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, have in their writing’s descriptions of artichoke’s health benefits.
This herb improves digestion by stimulating the production and release of bile.
The most abundant active ingredient in artichoke is cynarin. Studies have shown that cynarin not only boosts appetite but also alleviates symptoms of gut and bowel irritation.
Milk thistle
Milk thistle is another popular digestion aid. It contains one of the most potent active ingredients in herbal medicine called silymarin.
Silymarin is a flavonoid that improves the production, release, and flow of bile acids.
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Tinctures for Inflammation
Classic signs and symptoms of inflammation such as pain, redness, swelling, and loss of function in the affected area are usually manifestations of cellular injury.
Herbal remedies for inflammation work by preventing out-of-control inflammation (and therefore pain in many cases):
Turmeric
Turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, is well known in both ayurvedic and Chinese medicines and has been used to treat open wounds, digestive problems, and infections.
To date, it’s one of the most studied and well-documented remedies for inflammation.
White willow bark
Ancient Egyptians and Romans normalized the use of white willow bark to treat inflammation and pain.
However, this herb grew even more popular when scientists obtained from it compounds that work like aspirin, albeit with fewer side effects.
In our opinion, these are some of the best tinctures to have on hand at all times. That way, you’re prepared for those unexpected aches, upsets, and injuries.
At Khroma Herbs, all of our tinctures are 100% vegan, organic, glycerin-based - and backed by a 100% money back guarantee. Shop today!