Bulk Herb Blends: The Immune Booster

Ingredients

• Echinacea Purpurea roots
• Echinacea Purpurea tops
• Peppermint leaf
• Nettle leaf

The premixed herbs can be made into a tea for a fast and effective way to provide the body with the goodness of each herb. The tincture made from this recipe is dark and smells strongly of the dried herbs.

I have used honey in the place of glycerin and it works well but the honey is not as pleasant tasting. I have also made an alcohol tincture and mixed it half and half with the finished glycerin tincture to help cut the sweet taste of the glycerin.

Directions

Alcohol tinctures (extracts) are easy to make. Fill a glass jar 1/3 - 1/2 full of the premixed herbs (1/2 full of herbs makes a stronger brew), and top off the jar to within about 1/2 inch from the top with rum or vodka. Cap the jar and set it in a dark, cool place for about 3 weeks (shake mixture daily). Then, strain off and discard herbs saving the liquid herbal tincture in glass containers that are clearly labeled and capped.

As adults, we take 1/2 – 1 teaspoon (30 – 60 drops or so) every hour at the first sign of a cold or flu (any infection) until the symptoms disappear. We use less for children. Alcohol, glycerin or a mixture of the two is a good investment for a year’s supply of immune defense.

For more information on making tinctures using alcohol or glycerin, see the How-To Directions page. The following books have been our best references on making our own tinctures at home over the years:

• Herbal Antibiotics for making alcohol and glycerin tinctures
• Practical Herbalism for making alcohol tinctures
• The ABC Herbal for making glycerin tinctures
• The How to Herb Book for making alcohol tinctures

From Our Reading and/or Experience...

• Unlike most herbs which can be consumed as a life-long daily supplement, the Immune Booster should only be used in times of need. That is, as soon as you feel you are coming down with something or are sick.
• This dry herb mixture can be brewed into a tea. It can also be ground up into powder and encapsulated. The tinctures would be more effective, but some folks simply prefer teas or capsules.
• The Immune Booster can be used to benefit men, women (including before, during, and after pregnancy, and nursing), and children.
• It can be used as often as you would like.
• As is the case with most herbs, this mixture should be stored in a dark, dry, and cool place. Refrigeration or freezing is great, but certainly not necessary. Following these suggestions will delay the loss of its highly valued nutritional and medicinal properties.
• Follow the same instructions for storage after you make it into a tincture. We do not use any bottles in particular, but recycle empty glass bottles, whenever possible.
• An alcohol tincture (extract) doesn't taste the greatest but is the most effective way to draw out the goodness of the herbs, and are the easiest to make. For those two reasons alone, alcohol tinctures are the industry standard in all ready-made store bought tinctures. They also keep the longest (at least 2 years).
• Glycerin tinctures (or glycerites), though not as effective, are much more palatable with their sweet flavor. However, they will only keep for up to one year or so.
• A combination of both alcohol and glycerin has the benefits of both (effectiveness, sweet flavor, and longer shelf life).

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