Sage has antiviral properties. You can gargle with the tincture, or you can take it at the first sign of a cold. This sage tincture recipe is a simple folk remedy to try at home with your herbal harvest.
Ingredients:
- Sage leaves
- 190-proof alcohol
Directions:
- Gather a few handfuls of sage leaves from your garden. Bring them inside, wash and dry them. When you think the leaves are dry, spread towels on the countertop, cover with a layer of sage leaves, and let air dry for a few hours or overnight.
- Chop up the fresh sage, and place the herb in a clean, dry 1-pint glass jar. Cover the herb with the alcohol.
- Put the lid on, and place in a cool, dark place (like a kitchen cabinet) for 2 weeks, shaking thoroughly every day.
- Remove the jar from the cabinet, take off the lid, cover top of jar with cheesecloth and strain out plant material as you pour the tincture into a colored glass container. (Cobalt blue or amber glass keeps out harmful sunlight.) A bottle with a dropper attached to the lid makes it easy to administer your tincture.
