The single most-asked question in herbal practice: should I make a tea or a tincture? The answer depends on the plant part, the active compounds, and what you need from it. This guide walks through how to choose.
Three preparation methods cover 90% of herbal medicine: infusion (steeping in hot water), decoction (simmering in water), and tincture (alcohol extraction). Each pulls different compounds at different rates.
Infusion — for leaves, flowers, soft aerials
Hot water poured over chopped leaves or flowers, covered, and steeped 5-15 minutes. Covering matters: many medicinal compounds in delicate plant parts are volatile and escape as steam.
Use infusion for: - Aromatic herbs — chamomile, peppermint, lemon balm, lavender - Soft leaves and flowers — nettle, hibiscus, linden flower - Compounds that come out easily — flavonoids, mucilage, volatile oils
Standard dose: 1-2g dried herb per cup of water at 90-95°C, steeped 10 minutes covered. For demulcent effects (like marshmallow root), use cold infusion overnight — heat damages the mucilage.
Decoction — for roots, bark, seeds, tough stems
Simmer plant material in covered water for 15-30 minutes. The prolonged heat breaks down tough cell walls and dissolves compounds that wouldn't yield to brief steeping.
Use decoction for: - Roots — licorice, ginger, dandelion root, marshmallow root - Bark — cinnamon, willow, oak - Hard seeds and fruits — hawthorn berry, fennel seed - Heavy mineral content — horsetail, nettle root
Standard dose: 1 tablespoon dried root or bark per 500ml water; bring to boil then simmer 20 minutes covered. The reduction concentrates the brew — strain and adjust to drinkable volume.
Tincture — for shelf-stable concentrates
Alcohol (typically 25-95% by volume) extracts both water-soluble and lipid-soluble compounds that water alone cannot — including most alkaloids, many resins, and volatile oils. The alcohol also preserves the extract indefinitely.
Use tincture for: - Alkaloid-containing plants — goldenseal, California poppy, skullcap - Resins and gums — propolis, myrrh - Adaptogens for daily long-term use — ashwagandha, rhodiola - Acute situations — drops act in minutes vs the 30+ minute lag of teas
Standard dose: 30-60 drops (1.5-3ml) in water, 2-3x daily. Adjust by plant — potent plants like poke root are dosed in single drops.
How they compare for a specific plant
Take valerian root. The active sleep-supporting compounds are valerenic acid (lipid-soluble), GABA (water-soluble), and a small amount of essential oil (volatile).
- Decoction captures valerenic acid and GABA but loses volatile aromatics
- Cold infusion preserves volatiles but extracts less valerenic acid
- 70% alcohol tincture captures all three; this is why most clinical valerian studies use tinctures or alcohol-based extracts
For most adaptogens and alkaloid plants, the tincture is the most complete extract. For aromatic herbs and mucilaginous demulcents, the water-based preparation is better.
What about capsules?
Powdered herb in capsules has the advantage of dose control and convenience. It's the worst extract for any compound that needs a solvent — you're swallowing dry powder and trusting your gut to do the extraction.
Capsules work for plants where the whole-powder effect is the whole point — psyllium husk for bulk laxative effect, slippery elm for mucilage, turmeric where curcumin needs to reach the gut anyway. They're a poor choice for adaptogens, nervines, and most digestive bitters.
Glycerite — the alcohol-free alternative
Glycerites extract with vegetable glycerin. Weaker than alcohol for lipid-soluble compounds but workable for water-soluble actives. Sweet-tasting, suitable for children and those avoiding alcohol. Shelf life 1-2 years.
Practical guide to choosing
- Acute symptom needing fast onset → tincture (15-30 minutes to effect)
- Aromatic herb, daily ritual → infusion (40 minutes total ritual, mild compounding effect)
- Tough root or bark → decoction (worth the simmer)
- Adaptogen or nervine over weeks → tincture (consistent dose, easy to remember)
- Demulcent for irritated mucous membranes → cold infusion (preserves the mucilage)
Further reading
- Glossary: Volatile oil
- Glossary: Tannin — astringents extract differently
- Preparation: tea
- Preparation: tincture
Herbal preparations are not regulated as medicines. Dosing is generalised; clinical herbalists adjust for body weight, sensitivity, and goal.