Make a simple immune-boosting and virus-fighting echinacea tincture with the leaves and flowers from your immature echinacea plant, or the roots of your mature echinacea plant.
Harvest the flowers and leaves from the echinacea plant. Choose flowers and leaves that are bright and vibrant (not beginning to wilt or die back).
Give the flowers and leaves a good rinse and allow them to air dry.
Make the Tincture
Place a mason jar onto a kitchen scale and hit "tare" to zero out the weight.
Add your echinacea leaves and flowers to the jar, packing down gently, if needed.
Remember the weight (in ounces) of the flowers and leaves, then add double the weight (in ounces) of vodka.
Add lid and give the jar a good shake to start the process.
Remove the lid and push any flowers or leaves below the surface of the alcohol, replace lid and set on the counter, out of direct sunlight, for two weeks.
Each time you walk by the jar, give it a good shake (at least once daily).
Tincture is ready in 14 days.
Strain Tincture
Once tincture is complete, strain out flowers and leaves using a fine mesh colander. Transfer liquid into glass amber dropper bottles.
Store out of direct sunlight and follow dosage instructions in the notes section below.
Tincture is good for many years when stored correctly (using 190 proof alcohol).
Dosage:
Adults and children 12 years of age and older: at the first signs of illness, take one dropper-full (30 drops or 1.5 ml's) until symptoms cease or diluted in a small amount of water or tea three or four times daily. For sore throat/tonsillitis and/or onset of cold/flu symptomsHerbal Antibioticsrecommend one dropper-full (30 drops or 1.5 ml's) every hour until symptoms cease.
Children 2-11 years old: No information listed for children as a standard/safe dose but has been used in clinical studies with children with good outcomes.
Babies: not recommended for kids under the age of 2