Thread: BASIC LIST / SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR LONG TERM SURVIVAL

The Top 7 Most Effective Natural Antibiotics and How to Use Them

Cameron Hooper May 4, 2017
Remedies

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Ever since drug-based antibiotics came around in the 1940s, natural antibiotics have taken the back seat.
Well… until recently that is. Now that we’ve come to realize drug-based antibiotics have some nasty side effects, the demand for natural antibiotics has exploded.
Every time you swallow a drug-based antibiotic, you cause significant harm to your digestive system by destroying the healthy bacteria in your gut.
This can result in

• A weakened immune system
• Gut-related diseases (such as Crohn’s)
• Food sensitivities
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Chronic Inflammation

And it’s not like drug-based antibiotics damage the gut for a just few weeks.
The Journal Microbiology, claims that even a short course of antibiotics can cause undesirable changes in the gut microbiome that persist for up to 4 or more years! (1)
That being said, here’s an overview of the natural antibiotics I mention in this article. If you don’t feel like reading too much, just click on the natural antibiotic that interests you the most to jump to it.

Natural Antibiotic	What It’s Best For
Manuka Honey	Skin or oral infections, immune system boost
Oregano Oil	Skin & sinus infections, foot & nail fungus
Garlic	Colds, flu, ear infections, immune system boost
Cinnamon	Fungal infections (candida, athlete’s foot), immune system boost
Fermented Foods	Significantly improves immune system and gut health
Ginger	Prevent foodborone illness, best when combined with other remedies
Pau D’ Arco	Candida in the gut, viral & bacterial infections

Popping Antibiotics Like Candy

As you could imagine, the damage to your body increases with the amount of antibiotics you take.
Which is a huge concern since prescription antibiotics have become one of the most over-prescribed “medicines” today.
And there’s no sign it’s slowing down.
In fact, data from the CDC indicates that…

“1 of every 3 patients are given antibiotics when they aren’t even needed.”

This behavior is the main reason why antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs,” have developed. And scientists can’t figure out how to fight them.
The bottom line is that drug-based antibiotics are causing a significant amount of harm. And their overuse is only making things worse.
Drug-based antibiotics should only be used as a last resort.
Most natural antibiotics, on the other hand, don’t cause harm to your digestive system (with a few exceptions). And they certainly aren’t over-prescribed.
So if you want to fight infection without destroying your health at the same time, here are the top 7 most powerful antibiotics backed by science.
1. Manuka Honey


Manuka honey is one of the most unique and beneficial forms of honey on the planet— it’s like honey on steroids.
Among its many other health benefits, manuka honey has a powerful infection-fighting punch.
Unlike normal raw honey, manuka honey is made from bees that pollinate the Manuka bush.
The result is a honey rich in naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal, and dihydroxyacetone. This trifecta of substances is responsible for the potent antimicrobial properties of Manuka honey (2).
Studies have even found that manuka honey can kill off staph infections (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant superbug. Most drug-based antibiotics, on the other hand, are completely useless for treating MRSA.
How to use Manuka Honey

Primary Uses: Skin or oral infections (e.g., helps fight bacteria that causes plaque), general immune booster.
Manuka honey is primarily used topically (on the skin).
But since it’s honey, you can also eat it to give your immune system a boost. It’s the most delicious way to fight infection.

• Skin Infections: Take a small dab and lather the honey on the infected area. Cover with gauze or a band aid.
• Internal Immune Boost: If you notice people around you are getting sick or you recently caught a cold, you can take a tsp 1-2 times per day. This can help prevent you from getting sick in the first place or reduce the duration of your illness. I like to combine manuka honey with ginger and cinnamon to make it even more powerful.

I just wouldn’t suggest eating it every day for long periods of time since it would get expensive. Manuka honey is more medicine than food. Treat it like something you would put in your medicine cabinet.
Where Do I Buy Manuka Honey?

Like any supplements out there, the range of quality is massive. And since it’s really expensive, you want it to work, right?
I really dug deep into the research to find a high quality and high potency manuka honey. This is the brand I finally decided to use:

Get Manuka Honey Here

Warnings: Avoid getting the cheaper manuka honey brands with lower UMF ratings. They will be a complete waste of money. Also, don’t use while immune compromised unless it’s medical-grade.
2. Oregano Oil


Oregano oil is nothing like the herb you would put in your pasta sauce.
It’s a distilled extract of medicinal-grade oregano. Like manuka honey, it’s more of a medicine than a food.
Oregano oil contains two potent compounds called carvacrol and thymol. Both of which can fight off an impressive range of pathogens (harmful microbes).
Carvacrol, for example, is extensively studied for its antimicrobial effects. Over 1,000 studies have indicated that it can fight (3)

• Bacterial infections
• Fungal infections (like thrush which is caused by candida)
• Viruses
• Parasites
• Allergies
• Inflammation

The point is, oregano oil is one of the most powerful natural antibiotics on the planet.
Countless people have successfully treated foot / nail fungus, sinus infections, yeast infections, and even MRSA with oregano oil.
How Do I Use It?

Primary Uses: Skin infections, foot & nail fungus, sinus infections.
The way you use oregano oil will largely depend on what kind of infection you’re dealing with.

• Foot or nail fungus: Put a few teaspoons of oregano oil in a tub of water and soak your feet in it. You can also dilute the oil by combining a drop of oregano oil with a teaspoon of coconut or cold-pressed olive oil. From here you can apply it to your nails or skin.
• Sinus Infections: Put a few drops of oil into a big pot of steaming water and inhale the steam (be careful it’s not too hot). Alternatively, you can use a neti pot (just use one small drop) which works great when you’re too stuffy to breathe in steam.
• Oral infections (like thrush): Dilute a drop of oregano oil with a teaspoon of cold-pressed coconut oil. Swish for a few minutes and rinse it out. Repeat 3-4 times a day.

Where Do I Get it?

Due to possible pesticide contamination, I always suggest going organic.
It’s also important to use the right oregano species. There are over 40 different species of oregano, and not all of them will have the medicinal effect you’re looking for.
The two most effective species are Origanum vulgare and Thymus capitatus. So the supplement should contain one of these species to get the best results.
That being said, here’s the best organic oregano oil brand I could find:

Get Oregano Oil Here

Warnings: Don’t use internally. It’s really powerful stuff so it can actually kill off some beneficial bacteria in your gut.
3. Garlic (extract)


Garlic isn’t just a delicious vegetable to add to your meals. It’s also a powerful antibiotic that’s been used for thousands of years by cultures around the world.
And it turns out, these cultures were spot on for using garlic as an antibiotic.
One study, for example, found that an active substance in garlic (diallyl sulphide) is up to 100x more effective than antibiotics (4).
Pretty amazing, right?
Garlic is known to fight a wide range of infections including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even parasites (5).
But garlic doesn’t just kill infectious microbes. It also bolsters your immune system.
Studies have found that eating garlic on a daily basis can reduce the number of colds a person gets by 63% and reduce the duration of cold symptoms by up to 70% (6).
And unlike drug-based antibiotics, garlic provides a long list of additional health benefits including its ability to

• Lower blood pressure
• Improve cholesterol levels
• Prevent Alzheimer’s disease with antioxidants (7)
• Boost athletic performance
• Sulfur compounds bind to heavy metals (like lead or mercury) so they can be excreted from the body

But if you want to use garlic as an antibiotic, there’s a big catch…
How to Use It

Primary Uses: Internal, general colds, flu, ear infections, immune system booster
Cooking your garlic to add a flavor bomb to your food is perfectly fine. But if you want to use it medicinally, it needs to be raw.
That’s because when you cook or dry garlic, you destroy the ingredients that are responsible for its antibiotic effects.
To get all the antibiotic goodness from garlic, this is what I do…

• For Skin Infections: Combine 1 tbsp. cold-pressed olive oil with 1 clove of crushed garlic. Place the garlic in the oil and let it sit for 30 minutes, then strain. Set in a cup that’s sitting in warm (NOT hot) water if you want it warmed. Place a few drops of the oil on the infected area. Alternatively you can dilute one drop of garlic essential oil in the tbsp. of coconut / olive oil.
• For Ear Infections: According to Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD, you can use the above garlic-infused oil to treat ear infections. Take the oil, slightly warm it and put a few drops in the affected ear(s) hourly. This will also help loosen up ear wax buildup.
• To Boost The Immune System: Crush 1 clove of raw garlic. Crushing is better than chewing so your breath won’t be as bad and you won’t lose any friends with your rancid breath in the process ?. Swallow the garlic and you’re all set. Consume once per day.

Where Do I Get it?

It’s very important to make sure your garlic is from a safe source.
When selecting garlic at the store, I ensure it’s organic and that it’s not from China (they have very poor regulations).
I use the same guidelines when selecting a garlic oil to use. If you don’t want to shop around, this is what I use:

Get Garlic Oil Here

4. Cinnamon


Cinnamon is one of the world’s oldest and most common spices (8).
But cinnamon isn’t just any ordinary spice as you may have guessed.
Science has shown that cinnamon can fight off a wide range of dangerous bacterial and fungal infections (10).
For example, one study found that cinnamon inhibits the growth and mycotoxin production of certain fungi (11).
This is just a highbrow way of saying, cinnamon kills off fungal infections and stops it from making compounds that cause disease or tissue damage.
Cinnamon is also well known for its countless medicinal benefits including its ability to treat

• Acne caused by bacteria (9)
• Oral infections & bad breath
• Gut discomfort
• Hemorrhaging

There’s really nothing bad to say about cinnamon. It’s delicious AND loaded with health benefits.
How to Use It

Primary Uses: Internal immune booster with powder, external with oil (namely fungal infections like candida or athlete’s foot), best used in combination with other natural antibiotics.
The way I use cinnamon to treat infections largely depends on where the infection is.

• Skin-based infections: I use few drops of a high-quality ceylon cinnamon oil. I combine it with manuka honey and lather it on the infected area. This works really great because it’s a “wombo combo” of two different natural antibiotics.
• Internal infections: For things like the cold or flu, I combine a high quality organic Ceylon cinnamon powder with manuka honey or regular raw organic honey. I use this combo twice a day when I notice people getting the cold or flu. This usually helps prevent me from getting sick. Or at the very least, it significantly decreases the length of my colds.

Where Do I Get it?

Whether you’re using cinnamon as a spice or medicine, you need to make sure it’s organic Ceylon cinnamon.
The most common form of cinnamon you find in stores (Cassia) has high levels of coumarin, which is a toxin that can cause liver damage for certain people (12).
So if you can’t find a quality source of organic Ceylon cinnamon locally, I would suggest finding a source online such as this one:

Get Ceylon Cinnamon Here

5. Fermented Foods


I know…I know…fermented foods don’t directly have antibiotic effects.
But fermented foods are extremely important for a strong immune system (among many other things).
You see, fermented foods like sauerkraut or kombucha contain healthy bacteria. So when we eat fermented food, it boosts and preserves the beneficial bacteria in our gut—this is called our gut flora.
Our gut flora is destroyed by the pesticides in our food, antibiotics, alcohol, and NSAID drugs like Aspirin.
That’s why our gut needs to get an extra dose of healthy bacteria to stay healthy and function properly. But how does this relate to our immune system?
It’s estimated that up to 70% of our immune system is found in the gut. So when our gut flora is imbalanced (and believe me it is for most of us), our immune system becomes weak.
As a result, we get sick much easier and we’re more prone to autoimmune diseases like psoriasis.
Not only does it make sense, scientific studies have also validated the importance of fermented foods.
A scientific review by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for example, explored the evidence of how bacteria in the gut is essential for a strong immune system (13). They went on to explain

“Probiotic bacteria are shown to promote the endogenous host defense mechanisms…[and] stimulate nonspecific host resistance to microbial pathogens.”

This is just a nerdy way of saying, healthy bacteria can improve your body’s ability to fight off infection. And fermented foods are, hands-down, the best source of healthy bacteria you can get.
How to Use

Primary Uses: Supports a healthy immune system
This one is pretty straight forward.
Just aim to consume 2-3 different fermented foods every day to give your immune system a significant boost.
Some of the most popular fermented foods include

• Kombucha (a great substitute for soda)
• Sauerkraut & Kimchi
• Kefir (I like coconut water kefir)
• Fermented grains (like real sour dough)

You can make it yourself using lacto-fermentation. It’s a relatively simple process that takes 4-7 days. You can ferment basically anything. And it’s surprisingly tasty!
Where to Get it

You can buy fermented food in most grocery stores now. When I don’t have time to make it myself, I will usually buy kombucha, kimchi, or sauerkraut at the store.
If you can’t get ahold of or don’t have time to make fermented foods, the next best option is taking a high quality probiotic supplement.
Probiotics aren’t as ideal because they don’t provide a broad spectrum of healthy bacteria like fermented foods do. Because that’s what your gut needs.
To get the best of both worlds, I eat fermented foods AND take a probiotic as a form of insurance.
But not all probiotics out there are beneficial. And to be honest, most of them out there are crap. In the past, I spent a lot of time sifting through the different brands. One of the best probiotic brands I could find is called Primal Defense, by Garden of Life. It can be found here:

Get Your Probiotic Here

6. Ginger


Ginger is another promising natural antibiotic.
That’s because ginger contains natural compounds that can

• Fight infections
• Soothe digestive issues & discomfort
• Relieve nausea
• Reduce inflammation
• Increases stomach acid to calm digestion after a meal (14)

These properties are the reason why raw ginger is always served with raw foods like sushi. It helps prevent foodborne illness.
Like garlic, ginger should be raw if you want to get the antibiotic effects from it.
But it’s not known if ginger is as effective compared to the other natural antibiotics I mentioned because it hasn’t been well studied.
In other words, we know ginger is an effective antibiotic, we just don’t know how effective it is against a broad spectrum of pathogens.
How to Use It

Primary Uses: Used in combination with other natural antibiotics to increase effectiveness, general immune & health booster.
Since there aren’t many studies on ginger, I prefer to use ginger in combination with other antibiotics to get better results.
For example, I will use raw honey with raw ginger and cinnamon to fight the flu. The added ginger really helps since it can alleviate nausea that comes with the flu.
Plus, raw ginger is rugged if you try to eat it by itself. So I like to combine it with other things to make it taste better.
Ginger is for internal use only. I don’t suggest using ginger extracts or anything like that on the skin because it can cause irritation.
Where to Get it

This one is also straightforward. Get organic ginger at the store.
From here you can freeze any excess ginger you have. When you’re feeling run down, just grate it using a metal grater. Then you can add the raw ginger to your salad dressings, Asian-inspired dishes, or anything else you think it may be good in. But remember, it should be raw or only very briefly cooked.
Alternatively, you can get the antibiotic benefits of ginger with ginger extract pills (I suggest this one) or ginger candy.
7. Pau d’ Arco

Pau d’ Arco is a medicinal tree bark from the rain forest of South America.
It’s thought to help with a wide range of health complications such as

• Chronic inflammation
• Pain
• Fevers
• Candida overgrowth
• Ulcers

And of course, some evidence suggests Pau d’ Arco is effective at fighting viral, fungal, and bacterial infections.
Scientists believe a compound called beta-lapachone is responsible for Pau d’ Arco’s antimicrobial effects.
Evidence suggests beta-lapachone prevents viruses from replicating and it kills bacteria by inhibiting cellular respiration (15)(16).
Pau d’ Arco is also thought to be one of the best herbs to fight against candida overgrowths in the gut. Some even claim that Pau d’ Arco can reduce sugar cravings by fighting the candida overgrowth.
While Pau d’ Arco has compounds that may help with infections, there ultimately needs to be more studies to be sure.
How to Use It

Primary Uses: Fight fungal infections like candida in the gut.
Pau d’ Arco can be used externally with a tincture or internally with tablets.
Some people don’t tolerate it well, and get nauseous with larger doses. If you’re one of these people, just keep it for skin or oral infections (you can just spit it out).
People also seem to have a lot of success with using Pau d’ Arco for oral candida (thrush), skin conditions, and sore throats.
It’s NOT recommended for children, infants, and it can negatively interact with blood thinner medications.
As always, consult a healthcare practitioner before trying any of these natural alternatives.
Where To Get It

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, you can get Pau d’ Arco in tablet, tea, or tincture form (14).
But it’s best to stay away from the teas since the chemicals that give Pau d’ Arco its medicinal effects don’t dissolve in water. In other words, Pau d’ Arco tea is a waste of your money.
So you’re left with a tincture or tablets. With these, you can just follow the instructions on the packaging.
I did some research, and the brand as seen below seems to have the best product out there. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best option for a tincture I could find.

Get Pau D’ Arco Here

Replenish Your Good Bacteria No Matter What

Sometimes even natural antibiotics can kill off beneficial bacteria (particularly the stronger ones).
And since there’s so many things we’re exposed to every day that kills off our gut flora, it’s important to constantly replenish the healthy bacteria.
This is best achieved through eating fermented foods at least 2-3 times per day. As a form of insurance, you can also take a high-quality probiotic.
Natural Antibiotics to Avoid

I created this list in a specific order. The first 1-3 natural antibiotics are the best, whereas the remedies lower in the list have the least amount of evidence supporting their effectiveness for fighting infections.
That being said, there are a lot of other natural antibiotics out there that should be downright avoided, despite their popularity.
Some of them simply aren’t effective, whereas others cause significantly more harm than they’re worth.
So here’s the list of natural antibiotics you should AVOID:

• Colloidal Silver: Before refrigerators were invented, silver was used in foods like milk to prevent bacterial growth. It was even used to prevent the spread of certain diseases. Sure it works, but it’s never a good idea to expose your body to heavy metals. That’s just asking for health issues. The only time it’s useful is when all other alternatives fail to work or for short-duration topical uses.
• Grapefruit Seed Extract: Again, this is another alternative that works considerably well, but there’s a big issue. Grapefruit Seed Extracts can contain harmful chemicals or additives like benzalkonium chloride and triclosan—synthetic preservatives. These preservatives are thought to be the real reason why Grapefruit Seed Extract has antibiotic effects.
• Standard Store-Bought Honey: There’s a serious lack of regulation on honey products that aren’t raw. This means a large percentage of “honey” on the shelves contains things like heavy metals, antibiotics, and filler sweeteners such as corn syrup. The point is, store-bought honey can cause damage to your health and it will not fight infections (15).

The Bottom Line

There’s no denying that drug-based antibiotics are tremendously over-prescribed.
This misuse of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria and an unfathomable amount of damage to people’s gut.
While prescription antibiotics do have their place, it’s not always necessary to use them. Instead, it’s perfectly reasonable to use natural alternatives like manuka honey and garlic (oil).
Taking the natural approach will help prevent antibiotic resistant superbugs from developing. And most importantly, it will save your gut from a lot of unnecessary damage that can lead to serious disease down the road.
If you have tried natural antibiotics before, comment below to let me know what your favorite is! If you have anything to add to this list, that would be even better ?

The Top 7 Most Effective Natural Antibiotics and How to Use Them (naturalife.org)

Learn how to make tinctures to self-medicate and survive acute illness

01/12/2026 // Lance D Johnson // 100 Views

Tags: alcohol extraction, DIY medicine, dosage guidance, Elderberry, folk method, ginger, herbal medicine, herbal preservation, herbalism, home apothecary, long term storage, medicinal herbs, natural remedies, plant medicine, self-reliance, St. John's wort, tincture making, traditional medicine, Valerian root, vinegar tincture



In an age of instant gratification, pill-popping, and mass-produced solutions that often fail, there exists a medicine-making practice that marries patient hands with the enduring wisdom of plants. It unfolds not in a laboratory, but in kitchens and pantries, where amber glass jars hold a potent secret: the art of the herbal tincture.More than a mere hobby, this process of steeping herbs in alcohol or vinegar represents a profound act of preservation and personal sovereignty, capturing the fleeting essence and vitality of a plant in a form that can withstand the years and be available during acute illness and fatigue. For a growing number of people, creating these concentrated extracts is a return to self-reliance, a tangible connection to ancestral knowledge, and a practical strategy for building a resilient, long-term home apothecary.
Key points:

• Tincture-making is an accessible, traditional method for preserving medicinal herbs for five to ten years or more, offering a practical alternative to perishable fresh herbs or less potent dried ones.
• The process hinges on a solvent, called a menstruum, with alcohol being the most effective for broad extraction and indefinite preservation, while vinegar provides a non-alcoholic alternative.
• A simple, forgiving "folk method" allows beginners to create potent tinctures with minimal equipment, emphasizing proper technique to avoid common pitfalls like mold or weak potency.
• Spiritual practice, improving extraction using moon cycles, and setting intentions and medical objectives are all important elements in developing personalized medicine that maximizes the science within the plants.
• Understanding dosage requires a personalized approach, starting with small amounts of safe herbs and observing the body's response, as potency varies between plants and people.
• A curated selection of versatile herbs, from licorice root for immune support to valerian for sleep, provides a strong foundation for a home apothecary, each with specific uses and considerations.

The science and art of tincture making

Plants bloom and fade with the seasons; even carefully dried herbs see their vibrant powers diminish, often within a single year. A tincture, however, captures a plant's essence - its volatile compounds - in a suspended state. By immersing herb material in a strong solvent—most commonly alcohol—the liquid acts as both a conduit and a preservative, unlocking and drawing out a wide spectrum of the plant's active compounds, such as alkaloids and volatile oils. This captured essence, now safe from the decay that oxygen and time bring, remains potent and ready for years. The result is a compact, portable medicine that requires no brewing or special preparation. A few drops held under the tongue can offer relief, with the alcohol facilitating rapid absorption into the bloodstream.
Long before standardized pharmaceuticals, healers and households alike relied on similar preparations, macerating plants in wine, spirits, or vinegar. The modern home herbalist stands in this long lineage, though with clearer understanding and safer materials. The choice of menstruum is the first critical decision. High-proof alcohol, like 80- or 100-proof vodka, is considered the gold standard for its ability to extract a wide range of constituents and act as a nearly perfect preservative. It creates a stable environment where the medicine will not spoil. For those who avoid alcohol, whether for personal, health, or religious reasons, raw apple cider vinegar with at least 5% acetic acid offers a viable path. It excels at pulling minerals from herbs and creates a shorter-lived but effective extract, typically lasting two to three years with full potency.
The actual making is a ritual of patience. The simpler folk method is a gentle gateway. A clean glass jar is filled one-third to one-half with crumbled dried herbs, or packed tightly with fresh, chopped plant matter. The menstruum is poured over the top, ensuring a generous two-inch layer of liquid above the herbs to prevent any floating material from molding. The sealed jar begins its quiet transformation in a cool, dark cupboard. Make sure to shake the jar each day to facilitate the extraction of the plants' compounds. After a minimum of four to six weeks, the liquid, now deeply tinted, is separated from the spent herbs. Straining through muslin cloth and vigorously squeezing the last precious drops from the pulp is a final, crucial step, as a significant amount of potent liquid clings to the plant material. The spent herbal material left over after straining your tincture is called marc. It can be composted. Make sure to wear gloves when handling the finished product. The finished tincture finds its long-term home in dark glass bottles, shielded from light, and ready as medicine when needed. A glass dropper can be used to test the medicine under the tongue.
Build a cabinet of botanical allies

While the process is universal, the choice of herbs opens a world of specific support. Building a foundational home apothecary can begin with a handful of versatile and generally safe plants.

• Valerian root: A renowned ally for the restless, its earthy, distinctive aroma translates to a powerful calming effect. It is a classic for promoting deep, restful sleep and soothing nervous tension, though it is wise to start with a small dose as it can have a paradoxical stimulating effect on a small percentage of people.
• Elderberry: A vibrant, fruity defender against winter's woes. Rich in antioxidants and compounds studied for their antiviral properties, a daily dropperful during cold season or more frequent dosing at the first sign of illness is a cherished ritual in many households.
• Mullein: A gentle giant for respiratory comfort. Its velvety leaves, when tinctured, are traditionally used to soothe irritated sinus and throat passages, acting as a comforting demulcent for dry, hacking coughs.
• Licorice root: A sweet-soothing antiviral and adrenal supporter. It coats and calms mucous membranes while also possessing immune-modulating properties. It should be used in moderation, not exceeding a few weeks continuously, due to its effects on blood pressure.
• St. John’s wort: A beacon of light for low moods. This sunny-flowered plant is extensively used to support emotional balance during periods of mild to moderate seasonal sadness or stress, though it requires caution as it can interact with many prescription medications.
• Ginger root: The warming, zesty solution for digestive unease. A few drops in water can swiftly settle nausea, ease cramping, and stimulate circulation, making it a must-have for travel and digestive discomfort.
• Goldenseal: A potent, bitter antibacterial reserved for acute needs. Often used for short bursts at the onset of sinus or throat infections, its powerful properties demand respect. It should be used sparingly and not as a daily tonic, and only from ethically cultivated sources due to conservation concerns.

Maximizing intention and draw

In herbalism and spiritual practices, the full moon is believed to lend properties of culmination, potent power, release, and manifestation to tinctures. Herbalists may work with the moon phases to align the remedy's intended effect with specific lunar energies.
Full moon properties in tincture making:

• Peak potency and maturation: The full moon is considered the peak of the lunar cycle, and many believe its energy is at its most powerful during this time. Tinctures made or strained at this point are thought to capture the maximum vitality and strength of the herbs.
• Release and completion: The full moon is traditionally a time for releasing what no longer serves you or celebrating the completion of a phase. Tinctures started during this phase may be intended to help with emotional or spiritual release, or to bring a situation to completion.
• Activation and charging: The intense energy of the full moon is thought to act as an activator, charging the ingredients with specific vibrational energies. This is similar to the practice of charging crystals or making "moon water".
• Manifestation and power: Some use the full moon for manifestation and magnifying power. Tinctures made with this intention are meant to be potent aids in bringing goals and desires to fruition.
• Specific energetic signatures: From a traditional energetic perspective, the full moon is associated with "cold and dry" properties, which may be used to strengthen certain tissue states or alleviate others, depending on the desired effect of the remedy.

Herbalists incorporate these ideas into the tincture-making process in different ways:

• Starting the tincture: Some recommend starting the maceration process during the full moon to infuse the entire process with its powerful, expansive energy.
• Straining the tincture: Others suggest straining the tincture (separating the liquid from the herbs) at the exact time of the full moon to "bottle" the peak potency and complete the extraction phase.
• Intention setting and medicinal objectives: A common practice is to set a clear intention for the tincture's purpose while combining the ingredients, or writing the intention on the jar, and focusing on it during the full moon. The medicinal objectives should be clear.
• These practices are rooted in traditional and spiritual herbalism rather than clinical science, but for many practitioners, they are a vital part of connecting with the plants and the natural world.

Navigating the nuances of dose and storage

The question of how much to take lacks a single, simple answer, and this is where the art of herbalism truly meets the individual. A standard starting point for a non-toxic herb is roughly 15 to 40 drops, or about one to four milliliters, taken up to three times daily. Yet this dosage process is open for interpretation, due to the individual's own needs. A body seeking the gentle nourishment of nettle may welcome a larger dose, while one responding to the strong sedative pull of valerian may need only a few drops. The most reliable method is to begin low, observe with curiosity, and adjust gradually.
What of the tincture's legendary shelf life? A well-made alcohol tincture, stored in a cool, dark place, is a testament to stability. While it may remain safe for decades, its peak therapeutic potency is generally best within five to ten years. Vinegar tinctures have a shorter horizon of two to three years for optimal strength. The signs of a spoiled tincture are mercifully obvious: any fuzz of mold, a profoundly off or sour smell distinct from the herb, or a drastic change in clarity. These failures are rare with careful preparation. The greater risk is not spoilage, but the silent fading of potency or the mystery of an unlabeled jar. Labeling each bottle meticulously with the herb, solvent, and date is a gift to one's future self.
Tinctures as early treatment

The journey into tincture-making is, ultimately, an exercise in medical self reliance. It forges a tangible link to the rhythm of the natural world, the practical wisdom of those who came before, and the science of healing today. These medicines may come in handy during sudden, acute illnesses. I used licorice root and goldenseal tincture as an early treatment when I contracted a severe acute respiratory infection in January of 2020. I suddenly came down with a tightness in my lungs, and a debilitating feeling coursing through my arms and legs, with cold chills and high fever. I called it a "new flu" at the time. After taking high dose vitamin C, licorice root, and goldenseal tinctures, I recovered rapidly from a bedridden state, and within 48 hours, I was back and running in the cold winter air! Later that year, I learned that Chinese hospitals were successfully using licorice root to treat SARS-CoV-2.
Sources include:
Survivopedia.com
Pubmed.gov
Granihulda.com
IIJBS.com

Learn how to make tinctures to self-medicate and survive acute illness – NaturalNews.com

How to make A Herbal TINCTURE

How to make A Herbal TINCTURE

College of Naturopathic Medicine

96.3K subscribers
3.3K
89,662 views
Oct 1, 2022

In this episode, Peter Jackson-Main, shows you just how easy it is to make a herbal tincture. Rose is the plant material he uses, however you can choose any herbal material depending on your preferences and requirements. Follow along to see how you can start making your own home herbal remedy!

Tinctures Vs Extracts and What is the Difference

Tinctures Vs Extracts and What is the Difference

Rain Country

422K subscribers
2.7K
42,297 views
Dec 15, 2022
Email: raincountryhomestead@gmail.com

This Changed How I Make Herbal Remedies

This Changed How I Make Herbal Remedies

Grace Walk Farm

82.8K subscribers
1.3K
17,014 views
Nov 4, 2025

Master Recipe for How to Make Medicinal Herbal Tinctures Using Any Herb

Master Recipe for How to Make Medicinal Herbal Tinctures Using Any Herb

Mary's Nest

1.17M subscribers
15K
325K views
4 years ago
#MarysNest
#HerbalRemedies

Making Herbal Teas, Tinctures, and Salves with Bevin Cohen

Making Herbal Teas, Tinctures, and Salves with Bevin Cohen
SSEHeritageFarm

68.6K subscribers
52K
1,242,667 views
Sep 11, 2020

Explore the value of using wildcrafted and locally grown herbs from your own bio-region with Bevin Cohen. Bevin will discuss the quality, potency and sustainability of locally sourced herbs. He will also share the benefits of many well-known herbs, and a variety of methods that can be used to harness their healing properties; including teas, tinctures, salves and more. This will be a fun and fast-paced presentation, packed with useful information for herb enthusiasts of all skill levels.

How to Infuse Herbs and Oils for Soap Making and Medicinal Purposes. Carrier Oils and Herbs

How to Infuse Herbs and Oils for Soap Making and Medicinal Purposes. Carrier Oils and Herbs

White Dormouse Artisan Soaps

3.16K subscribers
2.9K
69,803 views
Jun 11, 2019
Today's Workshop: We will be discussing the different qualities of base (carrier) oils and their shelf life. The reasoning behind dried herbs and what they bring to the table that will compliment oil infusions for medicinal purposes. Formulating a recipe for infused oils, labeling, straining and storing the infusions that have reached their steeping point. We will be creating a soap recipe that challenges what ails us. We will also decide which method of infusing oils and herbs work best.If you love infused oils, you always will. So many choices, so many reasons, so many recipes, so what are we waiting for? Let’s get soaping!
Thanks for Watching, Liking and Subscribing and Happy Crafting!

Make Your Own Pharmacy; The Beginner’s Guide to Creating Herbal Medicine 🌿

Make Your Own Pharmacy; The Beginner’s Guide to Creating Herbal Medicine 🌿

Gaz Oakley

1.83M subscribers
3.8K
52K views
5 months ago

HOW TO MAKE PLANT MEDICINE - Tinctures

HOW TO MAKE PLANT MEDICINE - Tinctures

The Weedy Garden

313K subscribers
40K
465K views
1 year ago
#Herbalism
#Mullein #Lemonbalm