Apothékary Tinctures

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Tinctures are a potent liquid-extracted format of herbal medicine. 

Herbal tinctures can be taken in a liquid of choice or directly onto or under the tongue for more immediate effects. If using a liquid, hot or cold water both work fine and won’t harm the efficacy of your tincture. 

Always refer to your tincture’s packaging for recommended amounts. However, our general rule of thumb is to take one to three full droppers into a liquid of choice. Or one half to one full dropper at a time directly into the mouth for more immediate effects. 

Apothékary's herbal tinctures are alcohol-free after extraction. Apothékary uses 100% vegan, sugar-free, and non-GMO sunflower glycerin to naturally preserve our tinctures after we extract and evaporate the alcohol that was used in the production process. Glycerin adds a sweet, pleasant flavor and helps the herbal formulas combine well into beverages. 

Apothékary source their herbs from global and domestic farmers. They work with ingredient providers who are certified fair-trade or adhere to the FDA Foreign Supplier Program to meet the quality and high standards of domestic sources. Our ingredients are also manufactured in FDA-registered and cGMP-certified facilities. 

All of Apothékary's products are vegan and are not tested on animals. Even use vegetable-based inks in the paper product packaging. However, some of the manufacturing facilities may process products that contain gluten, nuts, or eggs. We’ve taken precautions to protect against cross-contamination, however products, although their ingredients are vegan and gluten-free, are not certified vegan or gluten-free. 

This depends on the herbal formula you’re taking. Apothékary tinctures can be taken directly onto the tongue and often provide immediate effects. 

Glycerin is a sweet, clear liquid derived from vegetable oils. Apothékary uses 100% vegan, sugar-free, and non-GMO sunflower glycerin.  Apothékary uses glycerin to naturally preserve tinctures after extract and evaporate the alcohol that was used in the production process. Glycerin adds a sweet, pleasant flavor and helps herbal formulas combine well into beverages.

Apothékary herbal formulas never contain added sugar whether it be white, brown, or raw sugar. Apothékary does use fruits, berries, and dates to give our formulas a natural sweetness. Due to the medicinal qualities of some of the herbs used, herbal formulas may even have a positive effect on blood sugar levels.

Apothékary tinctures are made of natural herbs and ingredients that may change the color and texture of the tincture. If you see a “residue” in your tincture, don’t worry! That’s a 100% natural compound that’s normal and safe to consume. Since the alcohol has been fully evaporated after the initial extraction, some non-soluble herbal compounds can stick around on the bottle and dropper top. Drop your tincture as usual and enjoy.

Slight variations in color and taste are a natural part of herbal tinctures. Although  Apothékary tinctures are meticulously formulated, different batches of plants used in the formulas can vary in color and taste—and that's totally normal. 

A herbal remedy can come in a wide variety of forms—tinctures, powders, hot or cold infusions, vinegars, salves, capsules, syrups, gummies, and more. Some forms have a very long history of use, while others have emerged more recently within our mainstream culture such as gummies and capsules. The majority of ancient records demonstrating medicinal plant use were in the form of infusions (strong teas), decoctions (simmered), and macerations (alcohol extracts), though powdered herbs have been traditionally and are still commonly used within Ayurvedic medicine.  

Tinctures (or alcohol extracts) of herbs date back as far as distilled alcohol itself—to the Ancient Egyptians. However, the term tincture wasn’t coined until the 19th century when Western physician and scientist, Carl Warburg, created a “secret” tincture remedy to treat fevers.

Whether working with herbal powders or tinctures, they both have centuries of traditional use and efficacy but vary in how they affect the body and how they should be used. The main way Apothékary differentiates them is a long-term solution versus a short-term “fix”. For acute situations like extreme anxiety, cold and flu, menstrual cramps, gas, or waking in the night, rely on tinctures. For longer-term health goals like stress regulation, repairing the gut lining, or balancing hormones, powders are a better option.

Herbal powders are much more like food. Though they take longer to take effect, they readily absorb into the body and are often highly nutrient dense. Tonic and adaptogenic herbs that are meant to be taken long-term, such as ashwagandha, reishi, chlorella, Siberian ginseng, and maca, are especially beneficial in powder form. Tinctures, on the other hand, absorb almost instantly into the bloodstream and are more potent in nature since they are already fully extracted and bioavailable.

A major advantage to powdered herbs compared to teas or decoctions is that they require a much lower amount of the raw herb since you are ingesting the entire herb instead of straining out the plant material—which means you’re also getting all of the beneficial dietary fiber and minerals.

• A concentrated form of active constituents (or medicinal properties)
• Includes constituents extracted by alcohol – some herbal constituents are best extracted that way so you’ll really only get those benefits in tincture format
• Readily bioavailable (easily absorbed, utilized, and felt by the body)
• Ideal for symptoms that need quick relief
• Easy to take on-the-go
• Quality remains overtime while powders can lose potency

• A wider range of fiber, mineral, and vitamin content from ingesting the whole plant
• Some vitamin-rich plants provide more benefits from being taken in their raw form (like chlorella or moringa)
• Even alcohol-free tinctures can contain trace amounts of alcohol
• Good for addressing longer-term health goals like stress management, gut lining restoration, or hormone balancing
• In an Ayurvedic context, tinctures can be warming to an already warm/imbalanced constitution – powders are more nutritious and cooling in nature
• Can be incorporated into a variety of foods and drinks

Both herbal powders and tinctures hold an important place in an herbal medicine cabinet. One is not better than the other – it’s like comparing apples to oranges. Apothékary's recommend daily use of herbal powders to maintain balance and tinctures for the inevitable acute situations our body sometimes needs extra support handling.