Tinctures are alcohol extracts of plants. Usually we take a dried herb, or you can sometimes use a fresh herb as well, and place it in a certain percentage of alcohol and let it sit for weeks, sometimes months, and then strain it. All of the active, medicinal constituents in the plants are now left in that extract. So what you’re getting is a very strong, potent, powerful medicinal combination. It tastes really strong because we use alcohol, and the herbal constituents can also taste really strong.
So normally what we do is – depending on what your symptoms are, what your diagnosis is – we will choose a specific herb to give you as a medicine that you take multiple times a day for a certain amount of time. We can also combine multiple tinctures, which is my favorite thing to do. That’s called a formulation, which means I can choose very specific herbs for your condition – multiple different symptoms, multiple different ways that certain diseases showing up in your body – and I can choose different herbs to match that particular constitution that you’re presenting with so I can formulate a combination of two herbs, or you can go with 15 herbs depending on what’s needed. So it’s a really nice way to customize natural medicine for you.
Example: Respiratory Tincture
So as an example, if you have a respiratory infection that is mild to moderate, and it does not necessarily need antibiotics or a steroid for example, and we are choosing to use natural medicine, I can choose herbs that are tonifying, herbs that would be considered a lung tonics like Mullein, for example.
And then I can also choose herbs that are very specifically anti-microbial that have an affinity for the lungs, something like echinacea or osha. I may also choose to include something like licorice root or marshmallow root because they are demulcents and they can provide a soothing effect on the airways. That would be an example of how to formulate two, three, four combinations of herbs in a formula for a specific condition.
What Inspires Your Formulations?
How we come up with the formulation is going to be based on the action of the herbs. Every herb has a primary action and then a few secondary actions. We know what the action of a specific herb is. Then, depending on what your symptom is, we’re trying to counteract that symptom with that particular action.
For instance, for an infection we want to use an antimicrobial herb. But then there are a few other things because if I know I’m soothing a lung infection, but you’re also feeling fatigued, then I might include some adaptogenic herbs that can be helpful for energy, something like gingko. Or if you are having brain fog, I may include something like rosemary, that can help with mental focus.
So it just depends on what you’re coming in with, what your symptoms are, what your constitution is, and how you’re feeling. We get to make it special for you.
How Are Herbs Better Than Other Medication?
There are multiple ways we can use herbal medicine, but tinctures are really, really potent because we get to extract all the active ingredients from the herb. And so it’s a really strong, effective way of using medicine. Some are stronger than others. Herbs work differently in different bodies. They might be more effective for one person than another, but for the most part, they allow us to utilize natural medicine before needing to go to a prescription medicine, which most of us want to avoid if possible.
They are very synergistic with the body as they work with the imbalance that’s going on, yet they’re still very powerful and they have very minimal side effects. Maybe it’s funny that they don’t taste very great, but you can acquire the taste. As most things in natural medicine,
- being effective,
- working synergistically with the body, and
- having fewer side effects than medication
will make them a better choice in the appropriate setting.
Who Are You and What Is Your Background?
I’m Doctor Kimani Borland, I was trained at Bastyr University as naturopathic physician, where we do 4 to 5 years of naturopathic medical training, including clinical rotations. I have a special interest in using herbs as medicine within the therapeutic order of naturopathic medicine where we use the least force necessary to achieve healing for our patients.
Most if not all naturopathic doctors are trained in herbal medicine, and some develop a stronger interest for it then others. I love herbs and I love tinctures because they’re really strong and they work and I love to formulate and make potions and I love recommending tinctures for patients.
How To Get A Personalized Tincture
Patients of Siskiyou Vital Medicine can talk to their doctor or call front desk to get their tincture ordered. Tinctures are customized for each patient and freshly made. They are usually ready within a week, but quicker is possible if the need is urgent – please let us know. Patients are charged when their order is placed.
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