Lavender Tincture + Uses
Here’s how to make and use lavender tincture!
You can use fresh or dried lavender flowers for this project. You’ll also need some 80 to 100 proof vodka, and a half pint or small jar with a lid.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a well-loved herb with anti-inflammatory and skin soothing properties.
The flowers (and the leaves) can be used to make things like lavender salve, lotion bars, body butter, and more!
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According to Richo Cech in one of my all-time favorite books, Making Plant Medicine, some external uses for lavender tincture include:
- rubbing on your temples for a headache or insomnia,
- applying directly to your scalp and brushes/combs to discourage lice,
- and diluted with water (30 drops in a 1/2 cup of water) and applied to skin sores and infections.
It can also be effective when dabbed on bug bites and bee stings.
For internal use –
Some people take lavender tincture internally to help them sleep, or for anxiety, brain fog, or depression.
Personally, I find the smell of lavender tincture lovely, but the taste is pretty strong and honestly… kind of disgusting (to my taste buds, at least)!
If you don’t mind the strong flavor of lavender tincture, then you could try small drops internally, and gradually work up to a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon at a time. (Doses will wildly vary depending on body type and metabolism; I always start with just a couple drops, test and observe, then work up if needed.)
You can take the tincture directly under your tongue, mix it with a spoonful of honey, or drop it into your favorite beverage.
To make lavender tincture with fresh flowers:
- Fill a canning jar about halfway with flowers, then add 80 to 100 proof vodka to the top.
- Aim for a rough ratio of twice as much alcohol as flowers.
- Cap, shake, and store in a cool dark place for four to six weeks before straining through a fine mesh sieve.
To make the tincture with dried flowers:
- Use an approximate ratio of 1 part dried herb to 5 parts alcohol.
- Add dried lavender to a jar, then pour 80 to 100 proof vodka over top.
- Dried herbs expand, so don’t fill your jar to the very top with the alcohol; leave a little room for expansion.
- Cap, shake, and store in a cool dark place for four to six weeks before straining.
Don’t forget to add a label!
I have some free printable labels you may find useful:
Printable Tincture Labels {free}
Shelf life of lavender tincture is at least one to two years, but it will probably stay useful for even longer than that.
For improved shelf life, store tinctures and herbal products out of direct sunlight and high heat areas.
