Tincture
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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]]
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