Tips

• Harvest Timing: Harvest yarrow in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun is too strong, to preserve the aromatic oils and medicinal properties.
• Dehydrating the Flowers: Before making the tincture, dehydrate the flowers by spreading them out in a single layer on a drying rack in a well-ventilated, dry place. This helps concentrate the medicinal compounds and extends the shelf life of the tincture. You can also use a dehydrator.
• Quality of Herbs: Use the highest quality fresh or dried yarrow herbs available. If using fresh herbs, ensure they are organic and free from pesticides.
• Proportion of Alcohol to Herbs: Use a ratio of 1 part dried yarrow (or 2 parts fresh yarrow) to 5 parts alcohol. This helps create a potent extract.
• Cutting the Herbs: Finely chop the yarrow to increase the surface area for better extraction of plant-based chemicals.
• Choosing the Alcohol: Use high-proof alcohol such as organic cane alcohol, grain alcohol, or vodka to effectively extract the medicinal properties from the yarrow.
• Infusion Period: Let the yarrow steep in alcohol for a minimum of 4-6 weeks, shaking the jar daily to ensure thorough mixing and extraction of the plant's compounds.
• Temperature Control: Keep the jar in a cool, dark place to prevent the alcohol from evaporating and to preserve the tincture's potency.
• Straining Method: Use a fine mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or coffee filter to strain the plant material from the liquid extract, ensuring a clean final product.
• Labeling: Clearly label the bottles with the date of preparation and the contents to keep track of its age and ensure proper use.
• Batch Size: Consider making small batches to ensure freshness and potency, as the medicinal properties can diminish over time.
• Using Dark Glass Bottles: Use dark amber or cobalt blue glass bottles for storage to protect the tincture from light exposure, which can degrade the active compounds.
• Experimenting with Additives: For additional medicinal benefits, consider combining yarrow with other complementary herbs such as echinacea or calendula when making the tincture.
• Surface Area Maximization: When chopping yarrow, aim to create the maximum surface area for the alcohol to interact with, ensuring a potent extraction process.
• Using Spring Water: If diluting the tincture for immediate use, opt for spring water over tap water to avoid contaminants and preserve purity.

How to Administer Yarrow Tincture

• Internal Use: Typically, yarrow tincture is diluted in water and taken orally. 
• External Use: For external applications, yarrow tincture can be diluted and applied to the skin using a clean cloth or cotton pad. It's often used for wound care and skin conditions.