As a Holistic Clinical Herbal Practitioner, my work involves pairing herbs and plants and their medicinal constituents with the human body's complexities to achieve balance and integrated wellness. It's like being a matchmaker. 

Integrated wellness means physically, energetically and spiritually (mind, body and spirit). My practice includes (but is not limited to) acute and pre-existing conditions, identifying root cause symptoms, blood work analysis, hormonal pathways, digestive support, gut health, skin conditions, psychological/emotional support, energetic health and navigating through spiritual awakening and growth. 

During a consultation discussion we can discuss your chief complaints and discomforts and I will be able to look deeper into your unique constitution, history, daily life and be able to identify specific health patterns with your symptoms. I may recommend or suggest dietary changes and certain foods to complete whole nutrition needs. I may also suggest changes to supplements along with compounding, ordering or recommending herbs specific to your needs.

Please note that most herbalists, including myself, are not trained as medical doctors, and I cannot legally diagnose or prescribe prescription medications or order diagnostic testing however, I can work with you and your existing medical professionals as part of your healthcare team.

Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts made from bark, berries, seeds, leaves or roots with specific concentrations of solvents such as alcohol, vinegar and glycerin appropriate for the material and medicinal constituents being extracted from the plant material. The alcohol content typically ranges from 25% to 90% depending on the material, the intended use and the extraction method. 

Tinctures made with alcohol are most often used because alcohol often pulls out the widest range of bioactive components into a convenient liquid form. Tinctures made with alcohol solvents are preserved very well and can often last for years when stored in a cool, dark place. The amount of alcohol you get in one dose of tincture can be very minimal once the tincture process is complete and can sometimes be evaporated off when mixed in hot liquid. Tinctures can be very useful when taking herbal medicines but there are many other options for those sensitive to alcohol.

Tinctures are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, often giving quicker results than capsules or teas. Herbal tinctures are best taken diluted in a small amount of water, tea or juice up to 3 to 4 times per day, unless otherwise specified. Undiluted alcohol is strong tasting and can be irritating to sensitive tissues in the mouth so use caution if/when taking it directly. Some bitter herbs are more beneficial when taken directly in the mouth, if possible, because the bitter taste provides a wealth of benefits right from the start.

Keep in mind everyone is different, and you will eventually learn the dosage and method that works best for you. As mentioned above, tinctures are just one of many forms to consider when taking herbal medicine.

Every herb is unique, and dosages vary accordingly, but there are some general guidelines and conversions that can be very helpful. Extract dosages can be measured in drops, dropperfuls, milliliters (ml), teaspoons (tsp), pumps or sprays.

• 1 dropperful is equivalent to 1 full bulb squeeze (not the entire glass tube)
• A dropperful contains about 30 drops, averaging 1.5ml
• A standard dose is 30-40 drops or 1.5-2ml
• One teaspoon (1 tsp) is roughly equivalent to 5ml

The most commonly used single dose for tinctures is 30-40 drops or 1 dropperful (1.5-2ml). In general, the more acute a condition, the more frequent the doses. When beginning any herbal formula, always start with the lowest recommended dose. Safe dosage ranges are fairly broad with most (but not all) herbs. When dosing multiple times per day, allow about an average of 4 hours between doses.  

If you have any questions, I highly recommend that you check in with me for guidance or use a recommended herbal reference to become more familiar with the individual characteristics of the herbs you are choosing.

It depends on the size of the bottle and dose. The recommended dosage for tinctures is a therapeutic dose based on an average 150lb person. 

A standard suggested adult dosage for tinctures is 2 dropperfuls two to three times a day. With this standard dosing suggestion, tincture bottles typically last this long:

1oz bottle = 2 full doses per day = lasting 7.5 days

2oz bottle = 2 full doses per day = lasting 15 days

4oz bottle = 2 full doses per day = lasting 30 days