How to Make Echinacea Tincture

I've been praising this holy plant, so I might as well go over how to make the tincture of which I'm so fond.

I start with 1 pound dried Echinacea Angustifolia root. Last time I checked it was $60.00 from Frontier. I'll need 4, 1 qt. mason jars (approx. $5.00) and 1 gallon of 100 proof Vodka (around $70.00) and labels ($1.00).

Fill the 4 jars about 1/4 of the way each with the dried root and add the vodka to the top of the jar. Cap securely and label. Leave the jars in a cool, dry place out of direct light, and after 1 year you've got some great Echinacea tincture. For the first few days and weeks, check the jars to make sure nothing is sticking together, shake gently. If you needed to use it, you could after only 6 weeks, but waiting a year will produce a higher quality product. I say make at least a gallon; if you've got a family, you may want to make 2 gallons. It's precious and you'll be glad you made more and not less.I don't decant after a year, but you could - that is removing the liquid from what's left of the solids in the jar. I just leave it all in there and use a dropper to take what I need off the top and fill smaller 1 or 2 oz. dropper bottles.

Making your own will cost you about $2 an oz which is much cheaper than you can buy for anywhere else, and you know the quality is great because you made it yourself.If you store out of light and in a cool, dry place it will last a long time. My stock from 2002 is still perfect; I kept it down in my cellar until I need it.

To review:
Echinacea - $60.00
Mason Jars - $5.00
Vodka - $70.00
Labels - $1.00

$136.oo for 1 gallon of Echinacea tincture is a little over $2.00 an oz. By that formula I spent about $4.00 so far to get well from the Swine Flu - who says health care is expensive? I should add in the St. John's Wort too which I didn't make and that's about $11.25 an oz. from Red Moon Herbs, so factor in another $20.00 or so for that. Perhaps, next summer I will find some St. John's Wort and make my own!