Tinctures have been around for more than 1000 years. They are thought to have been invented by the Egyptians when they learned to distill alcohol. Distilled alcohol was used to preserve certain plants and make medicines. Some of the most popular herbs and plants that are used to make tinctures are turmeric, echinacea, milk thistle, valerian, elderberry, and cannabis.
Tinctures can be made by soaking the leaves, bark, berries, or roots of some plants in alcohol. The alcohol pulls out the active ingredients in the plant material. You can buy tincture, but making your own at home is a good option because you know exactly what you're putting into it.
What Is Green Dragon Tincture?
Green dragon tincture, also known as golden dragon tincture, refers to almost any herbal tincture made using cannabis. These liquid tinctures are made using high-proof alcohol. Cannabis tinctures were one of the earliest forms of tinctures. Today, they're being used more than ever before. Soaking cannabis plant material in alcohol pulls the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. Terpenes are the aromatic oils of the plant, and cannabinoids are chemical compounds like THC, CBD, and CBG.
What Ailments Is Green Dragon Tincture Used For?
For centuries, people have used cannabis as medicine. Green dragon tincture has been found all over the world, from China to Europe. The benefits of Green Dragon Tincture can vary depending on whether the cannabis is decarboxylated beforehand. Decarboxylation refers to heating the cannabis to activate cannabis compounds such as THC.
Some of the ailments that green dragon cannabis tinctures are believed to help are nausea, vomiting, anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep apnea, glaucoma, Crohn's disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other ailments. While the medicinal benefits are still being researched, millions of people that use cannabis as medicine swear by its effectiveness.
How Many Ways Can You Use Green Dragon Tincture?
There are five different ways to take advantage of the benefits of green dragon tincture. You can use it as a spray under the tongue in small doses as needed. You can use it as drops under the tongue. You can add the tincture to a variety of drinks like tea, coffee, or even soda. This is not possible with oil-based cannabis-infusions, because the oil will float of top of the drink.
The fourth way to use the tincture is in food. You can use it in many baked goods. You can make it into gummies, which are very popular. The tincture can be added to almost any food you can think of. Finally, the fifth way to use the tincture is as a topical treatment. If you want to use it for localized pain relief, a topical application can work very well.
Is Green Dragon Tincture Safe?
Many people use cannabis tinctures because they prefer not to smoke weed. Inhaling smoke into your lungs isn't good for you overall, though there can be benefits from inhaling cannabis vapor.
As for cannabis itself, centuries of use have proven that it is a beneficial plant with many medicinal applications. Tincture is an excellent way to introduce cannabis into your wellness regimen in small doses. Make a note of how you feel after just a drop or two, and go from there.
An important thing to remember is that, if you feel uncomfortable because you've had too much THC, you should drink plenty of water and lie down. The sensation will pass.
Making Green Dragon Tincture At Home
Before you get started you will need:
- An oven
- A shallow baking pan
- A saucepan ( for use with alternative Master Wu method)
- Parchment paper
- A Mason jar
- Cannabis flower
- Pure grain alcohol of 90% strength or higher (Everclear works great)
If you are using fresh cannabis that has not been decarboxylated (check out our handy guide to decarbing at that link), then you will need to take the following steps.
On a parchment-lined cookie sheet, evenly spread out a layer of cannabis. Allow to heat in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour at 220 degrees. Because ovens run at varying temperatures, getting the heat right can be tricky. Placing the cookie sheet on the rack in the center of your oven will help keep things even! When done, your cannabis should look slightly toasted brownish and feel dry to the touch.
For an ounce of cannabis, use 16 fl. oz of alcohol to make your tincture. For less, use the proportions of 7 grams of weed for 4 fl. oz. of alcohol.
Master Wu's Method VS Traditional Method
Once you have reached this stage of the tincture preparation, there are two different ways you can proceed.
Traditional Method:
For the traditional method, seal the alcohol and cannabis mixture in an airtight mason jar and store it in a cool, dark place for several weeks. Be sure to shake the mixture once a day. Once a month or so has passed, strain the liquid through a paper filter, such as a coffee filter, and separate the plant matter. Put the liquid into a dark glass bottle, preferably with a dropper, so it's protected from light and easy to use.
Master Wu's Method:
Fill the sauce pan with enough water to cover half of the mason jar and heat the water to 170° using a thermometer to keep the temperature stable. With the alcohol and cannabis mixture sealed in the mason jar, place the jar into the water and simmer for 20 minutes.
When 20 minutes have passed, you will remove the jar from the pan of water and allow it to cool completely. Next, you will strain the cannabis from the liquid just as you would using the traditional method. It is best to use a dark dropper bottle for this method as well.
The only difference is that with the traditional method for making the tincture you must wait weeks before it is ready to use. Using Master Wu's tincture method it is ready to use right away.