Medicated Wines
Technically, anything steeped in an alcoholic medium will be a tincture, but wine has less alcohol than the ninety proof spirits called for in pharmaceutical tinctures. Most wines are categorized by the percentage of alcohol they contain. Double the percentage to find the proof. So the highest proof in wine would be about thirty proof. Light colored wines, usually the lowest in alcohol content, tend to decompose rather quickly, as compared to the tinctures, which will last for as long as you will ever need them.
However, wine is rather inexpensive and has some longrange advantages in plant medicine. Because of its alcohol content (even though lower than that of vodka, gin, and brandy), it immediately dissolves any plant substances which are normally insoluble in water. Alcohol helps to resist the tendency to spontaneous change in all plants and the grape acid also helps to increase the solvent power of the wine.
Wine is also less stimulating for the body than the highproof spirits and can be used for sipping in small quantities, while the tinctures may only be used by the teaspoon.
Not any wine will do. Use a full bodied red wine for tonic wines. In my experience, Madeira holds up well, tastes wonderful, and is just the right base for a tonic.
I use inexpensive sherries for the mouthwashes and gargles, and although light wines tend to decompose easily, I find they hold up quite well with the addition of the herbs. See Breath Sweeteners.
Make all these medicated wines in small quantities and without heat. Keep the wines well corked and in a cool place.
Some Medicated Wines
My Favorite Tonic Wine * Sip this wine any time you feel ill, or use after meals (a tablespoon at a time) as a tonic wine. This wine is marvelous when you feel run down or if you can't eat anything because of a flu or other illness. Some students have confided that this wine has tided them over during difficult illnesses.
1-pint Madeira
1-sprig wormwood
1-sprig rosemary
1-small bruised nutmeg
1-inch bruised ginger root
1-inch bruised cinnamon bark
12 large organic raisins
Pour off about an ounce of the wine. Place herbs in the wine. Cork the bottle tightly. Place the bottle in a dark, cool place for a week or two. Strain off the herbs. Combine this medicated wine with a fresh bottle of Madeira. Mix thoroughly. Sip a small amount at a time whenever needed. I often use the undiluted wine. It helps to settle the stomach, gives energy, and, well, just makes you feel better.
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Wormwood Wine [To settle the stomach and offset the ill effect of alcohol] Wormwood is a bitter herb. The Romans used it before and after an alcohol binge to counteract the effects of drinking too much alcohol. Gentian is another bitter digestive aid that will quickly settle an upset stomach. One of the bitter tastes of Campari, the marvelous Italian aperitif (before dinner drink), comes from wormwood. Campari can be used in teaspoon amounts to settle the stomach. Otherwise, add a sprig of wormwood to any leftover white wine, and steep for one to two weeks. Do not ever use much in any preparation.
Chamomile Wine
1 bottle white wine or Maderia red wine
1 handful chamomile flowers
Add the flowers to the wine. Steep for a week to ten days. Strain. Use in tablespoon doses to settle the stomach. Chamomile flowers help to alleviate body spasms and colic. Dip a folded cloth in the wine and place the compress on abdominal area.
Rosemary Wine
1-bottle white wine
1-handful fresh rosemary leaves or 2 tablespoons dried leaves
2-tablespoons dried borage leaves
Steep leaves in white wine for about a week or so. Strain out the herbs. Use in small quantities whenever needed. This wine can lift the spirits from a mild depression, and it also quiets the nerves.
Aromatic Wine [Tonic, digestive aid] This French formula
possesses strong tonic and aromatic properties. It is useful for invalids with feeble digestions and will also help with flatulence and other digestive disturbances.
2-pints claret (Bordeaux) wine
1/2-tablespoons sage leaves
2-tablespoons thyme leaves
2-tablespoons hyssop leaves
2-tablespoons spearmint leaves
2-tablespoons wormwood leaves
2 -tablespoons marjoram herb
Chop the herbs into a coarse powder. Moisten the powders with some of the claret. Pack into a Chemex coffee machine, using parchment paper. Pour the claret over the herbs. It should yield about 1 pint of filtered liquid.
Use 1 tablespoon at a time. For ulcers, use heated as a hot (external) compress (dip a cloth into the hot liquid).
Antichill, Anticold Ginger Wine [or whiskey]
1-pint brandy
Several pieces fresh bruised ginger root
Steep 1 2 tablespoons of bruised ginger root in an inexpensive bottle of brandy (or whiskey) for a week to ten days.
Strain out. Use in teaspoon doses when you have a cold orin teaspoon doses when you have a cold or chill, or add a teaspoon to hot peppermint or sage tea. Ginger will not only detoxify the body, but also will induce perspiration. This helps to combat a cold.
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