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Medical · Formula · Book recipe 10.1

Glycerin tincture (glycerite) from fresh or dried herbs

Glycerin pulls active compounds out of herbs and preserves them in liquid form for 1 to 2 years, giving you shelf-stable plant medicine without needing alcohol, a pharmacy, or refrigeration.

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How it works

Chop herbs
Cover in glycerin
Steep 4-6 wk
Strain & store

Inside this article

What you'll need
Steps
Warnings
Storage and shelf life

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What is in this article

  • The method at a glance: chop herbs, then cover in glycerin, then steep 4-6 wk, then strain & store
  • The exact numbers: fresh herb, dried herb, steep, shelf life, store
  • The full materials list (3 items, with grades and substitutes)
  • The 4-step method, with every measurement in the step
  • The hazard box and the caution notes: what never to mix it with and when to stop
  • Storage and shelf life for the raw compound and the finished mix
  • A printable one-page PDF of this article

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Prefer paper? This is Recipe 10.1, page 64, in Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide.

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

How do I make a tincture without alcohol?

Swap the alcohol for food-grade vegetable glycerin, which draws out water-soluble plant compounds and holds them in a stable, sweet liquid. It works well for herbs like elderberry, echinacea, and ginger.

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What's the recipe for a glycerin tincture?

You need food-grade vegetable glycerin, distilled water, and chopped fresh or dried herb, steeped in a sealed glass jar, then strained and bottled in amber glass. Fresh and dried herbs use different proportions of herb to liquid.

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How much water do I add to glycerin for dried herbs?

Dried herbs get a blend that is mostly glycerin with a smaller share of distilled water, while fresh herbs take pure glycerin because they bring their own moisture. Glycerin has to stay the majority so the tincture resists microbial growth.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

How long does a glycerite last?

A glycerite keeps well without refrigeration when stored in sealed amber glass somewhere cool and dark, though heat, light, and air exposure shorten its life. Toss any batch that turns cloudy, smells off, or shows mold.

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How long do I steep a glycerin tincture?

A glycerite needs a long, slow steep in a sealed jar kept cool and dark, with regular shaking so the glycerin keeps reaching the plant material. Then it is strained and pressed.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

Can I make herbal tinctures for children or pets?

Glycerin tinctures suit children because they are alcohol-free and sweet, with the serving reduced by body weight. Research each herb before use. Pets are not covered.

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Keep going

Read nextMullein for lung support: harvest, dry and storeWhat mullein does for coughs and congestion, how to use it as tea, tincture, oil or steam, and how to harvest, air dry and store it.Medical · Guide

Related to this

Medical · Formula Make an herbal tincture with alcohol Alcohol dissolves plant compounds that water alone can't extract, then preserves them indefinitely as the same alcohol prevents microbial growth. Hazardous Medical · Reference Tincture herbs: a grouped quick reference for 23 useful herbs 23 herbs grouped by use, each with the part to use, alcohol strength, how well it works as a glycerite, a starting dose, and the cautions. Compounds and Cleaning · Compound Glycerin Shelf life: Indefinite. Storage: Sealed glass or HDPE. INDEFINITEMULTI-USE Food · Supply Dried Herbs & Spices Real shelf life: Longer, but lose potency. Label says 1-3 years LONGER, BUT LOSE POTENCY
Everything in MedicalNever-mix checkerShelf life tableFind a recipe by needWalk-around auditStart here

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Medical · FormulaSource: Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide, Recipe 10.1, p. 64 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

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