Editing Tincture

{{Short description|Herbal liquid}}
{{about|alcoholic liquids|the colors used in a coat of arms|Tincture (heraldry)}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2018}}
[[File:Whitewillowtincture.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A tincture prepared from [[Salix alba|white willow]] bark and [[ethanol]], containing [[salicin]] (from which [[salicylic acid]]-based products like [[aspirin]] are derived)]]

A '''tincture''' is typically an [[extract]] of plant or animal material [[dissolution (chemistry)|dissolved]] in [[ethanol]] (ethyl alcohol). [[Solvent]] concentrations of 25–60% are common, but may run as high as 90%.<ref name="ReferenceA">Groot Handboek Geneeskrachtige Planten by Geert Verhelst</ref> In [[chemistry]], a tincture is a [[Solution (chemistry)|solution]] that has ethanol as its solvent. In [[herbal medicine]], alcoholic tinctures are made with various ethanol concentrations, which should be at least 20% alcohol for preservation purposes.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ullian|first=Naomi|date=2016-09-19|title=How To Make A Medicinal Mushroom Double-Extraction Tincture|url=https://theherbalacademy.com/make-medicinal-mushroom-double-extraction-tincture/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-12|website=Herbal Academy|language=en-US}}</ref>

Other solvents for producing tinctures include [[vinegar]], [[glycerol]] (also called glycerine), [[diethyl ether]] and [[propylene glycol]], not all of which can be used for internal consumption. Ethanol has the advantage of being an excellent solvent for both acidic and basic (alkaline) constituents. A tincture using glycerine is called a [[glycerite]]. Glycerine is generally a poorer solvent than ethanol. Vinegar, being acidic, is a better solvent for obtaining alkaloids but a poorer solvent for acidic components. For individuals who choose not to ingest alcohol, non-alcoholic extracts offer an alternative for preparations meant to be taken internally.

Low [[Volatility (chemistry)|volatility]] substances such as [[iodine]] and [[mercurochrome]] can also be turned into tinctures.

==Characteristics==
Tinctures are often made of a combination of [[ethanol|ethyl alcohol]] and water as solvents, each dissolving constituents the other is unable to, or weaker at. Varying their proportions can also produce different levels of constituents in the final extraction. As an [[antimicrobial]], alcohol also acts as a preservative.

A downside of using alcohol as a solvent is that ethanol has a tendency to [[Denaturation (biochemistry)|denature]] some organic compounds, reducing or destroying their effectiveness. This tendency can also have undesirable effects when extracting botanical constituents, such as [[polysaccharide]]s. Certain other constituents, common among them [[protein]]s, can become irreversibly denatured, or "pickled" by the alcohol. Alcohol can also have damaging effects on some aromatic compounds.

Ether and [[propylene glycol]] based tinctures are not suitable for internal consumption, although they are used in preparations for external use, such as personal care creams and [[ointment]]s.

==Examples==
[[File:Bruine stopfles met label “TINCT. IPECAC.”, objectnr 40295-A-B.JPG|thumb|Bottle for holding [[ipecac]] tincture]]
Some examples that were formerly common in medicine<ref>The Pharmacopoeia of the United States, 1850 ed.</ref> include:
* [[Tincture of benzoin]]
* [[Tincture of cannabis]]
* Tincture of [[Cantharidin|cantharides]]
* Tincture of [[castoreum]]
* Tincture of ferric citrochloride, a [[chelate]] of [[citric acid]] and [[Iron(III) chloride]]
* Tincture of green [[soap]], which classically contains [[lavender]] oil
* Tincture of [[guaiacum|guaiac]] gum
* [[Tincture of iodine]]
* Tincture of [[opium]] ([[laudanum]])
** [[Camphor]]ated tincture of opium ([[paregoric]])
* Tincture of [[Mentha pulegium|pennyroyal]]
* [[Warburg's tincture]] ("Tinctura Antiperiodica" or "Antiperiodic Tincture", a 19th-century [[antipyretic]])

Examples of spirits include:
* Spirit of [[ammonia]] ([[spirits of hartshorn]])
* 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(s) of salt" actually meant [[hydrochloric acid]]. The concentrated, fuming, 35% acid is still sold under this name in the UK, for use as a drain-cleaning fluid.
* "Spirit of [[vinegar]]" is an antiquated term for glacial [[acetic acid]]
* "Spirit of [[vitriol]]" is an antiquated term for [[sulfuric acid]]
* "Spirit of wine" or "spirits of wine" is an old term for alcohol (especially food grade alcohol derived from the distillation of [[wine]])
* "Spirit of wood" referred to [[methanol]], often derived from the [[destructive distillation]] of [[wood]]

== See also ==
* [[Nalewka]], traditional [[Poland|Polish]] category of alcoholic tincture.
* [[Infusion]], water or oil based extract with similar historical uses to a tincture.
* [[Elixir]], pharmaceutical preparation containing an active ingredient that is dissolved in a solution containing some percentage of [[Ethanol|ethyl alcohol]].
* [[Extract]]
*[[Klosterfrau Melissengeist]]
* [[Spagyric]], fermentation, distillation, and extraction of mineral components from the ash residue of calcinated plants.
* [[Topical]], categorization of topical skin preparation options
* [[Theriac]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Wiktionary}}

{{Dosage forms|state=show}}

[[Category:Tinctures| ]]
[[Category:Dosage forms]]
[[Category:Drug delivery devices]]
[[Category:Polysubstance alcoholic drinks]]