Tincture 352184 221538946 2008-06-24T23:20:00Z 70.111.167.186 :''This article is about alcoholic liquids. For the colors used in a coat of arms, see [[tincture (heraldry)]].'' [[Image:Whitewillowtincture.jpg|thumb|right|110px|A tincture prepared from [[Salix alba|white willow]] bark and ethanol]] In [[medicine]], a '''tincture''' is an [[alcohol]]ic extract (e.g. of an [[herb]]) or [[solution]] of a non-[[Volatility (chemistry)|volatile]] substance; e.g. of [[iodine]], [[mercurochrome]] ). To qualify as a tincture, the alcoholic extract is to have a [[ethanol]] percentage of at least 40-60% (sometimes a 90% percent pure liquid is even achieved). <ref>Groot Handboek Geneeskrachtige Planten by Geert Verhelst</ref>. Solutions of volatile substances were called [[spirit]]s, although that name was also given to several other materials obtained by [[distillation]], even when they did not include alcohol. ==General method of preparation== A general method of preparation on how tinctures can be prepared is the following:<ref>[http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-tincture.htm How to make a tincture]</ref> *Herbs are put in a [[jar]] and a spirit of 40°C pure [[ethanol]] is added *The jar is closed and left to stand for 2-3 weeks. It is shaken every once in a while. To make a more precise [[tincture]], more extensive measuring can be done by combining 1 part herbs with a water-ethanol mixture of 2-10 parts, depending on the herb itself. With most tinctures, however, 1 part water at 5 parts [[ethanol]] is used.<ref>Groot Handboek Geneeskrachtige Planten by Geert Verhelst</ref> ==Examples of tinctures== Some examples that were formerly common in medicine{{fact|date=February 2008}} include: * [[Tincture of Benzoin]] * Tincture of [[Cantharidin|cantharides]] * Tincture of ferric citrochloride (a [[chelate]] of [[citric acid]] and [[Iron(III) chloride]]) * Tincture of green [[soap]] (which also contains [[lavender]]) * Tincture of [[guaiacum|guaiac]] * [[Tincture of iodine]] * Tincture of [[opium]] ([[laudanum]]) * [[Camphor]]ated opium tincture ([[paregoric]]) * Tincture of [[Pennyroyal]] Examples of spirits include: * Spirit of [[ammonia]] (also called [[spirit of hartshorn]]) * Spirit of box, or [[ethanol]], which was derived from the destructive distillation of [[boxwood]] * Spirit of [[camphor]] * Spirit of ether, a solution of [[diethyl ether]] in alcohol * "Spirit of Mindererus", [[ammonium acetate]] in alcohol * "Spirit of [[nitre]]" is not a spirit in this sense, but an old name for [[nitric acid]] (but "'''sweet''' spirit of nitre" was [[ethyl nitrite]]) * Similarly "spirit of salt" actually meant [[hydrochloric acid]], * "Spirit of [[vinegar]]" was glacial [[acetic acid]] and * "Spirit of [[vitriol]]" was [[sulfuric acid]]. * "Spirit of wine" or "spirits of wine" is an old name for alcohol (especially food grade alcohol derived from the distillation of [[wine]]) * "Spirit of wood" means [[methanol]], often derived from the [[destructive distillation]] of [[wood]] == See also == * [[Nalewka]] - a traditional [[Poland|Polish]] category of alcoholic tincture. * [[infusion]] - a water or oil based extract with similar historical uses to a tincture. * [[Elixir]] - A pharmaceutical preparation containing an active ingredient that is dissolved in a solution containing some percentage of [[ethyl alcohol]]. * [[Extract]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-tincture.htm How to make a tincture] [[Category:Drugs]] [[de:Tinktur]] [[nl:Tinctuur]] [[ja:チンキ]] [[pl:Nalewka (farmacja)]] [[pt:Tintura]] [[ru:Настойка (лекарственная форма)]] [[fi:Tinktuura]] [[th:ทิงเจอร์]]