RJ Homestead

Eight weeks ago, we shared the first step of making our Usnea tincture, placing the freshly gathered lichen into 80-proof and 100-proof vodka to begin its slow, quiet steep. Over the last two months, that alcohol has been doing the important work of pulling out the plant’s deep, protective properties. Today, we are finally moving on to the second phase: the hot water extraction.

The Medicine of Hot Water

While alcohol is wonderful for extracting the potent usnic acid, hot water is needed to draw out the tough, immune-supporting polysaccharides hidden within the lichen. By combining both the alcohol and the water extractions into a single “double extraction,” we are able to capture the complete, whole-plant medicine of the Usnea.

The Hot Water Extraction Process

Once you have strained the alcohol from your eight-week steep (be sure to set that precious liquid aside in a jar), it is time to work with the remaining plant material.

• Simmer the lichen: Place the leftover, alcohol-soaked Usnea into a small saucepan and cover it with distilled water using a 2:1 ratio of water to the volume of your original lichen.

• Slowly reduce: Bring the water to a very gentle simmer and let it cook uncovered for 2 to 4 hours until the water volume has reduced by half. Be careful not to let it reach a rapid, rolling boil, as extreme heat can degrade those beneficial plant compounds.

• Cool and strain: Once reduced, remove the pan from the heat and let the liquid cool down to room temperature. Strain it through a cheesecloth, squeezing the Usnea firmly to extract every last drop of medicine before composting the remaining pulp.

Blending the Double Extraction

The most important part of this process is ensuring the two liquids are mixed together precisely. We want the final blend to have a high enough alcohol content to preserve it safely and prevent any mold growth. Since we used 80-proof to 100-proof vodka (which is 40% to 50% ABV) for our initial steep, we measure our liquids and carefully mix 3 parts of the alcohol extract to 1 part of the water extract.

Storing Your Medicine

Once your liquids are beautifully blended, pour the combined dual-extract into clean, amber glass dropper bottles if you have them on hand. We actually just use simple mason jars and tuck them away in a really dark pantry. As long as you store your medicine in a cool, dark cupboard, the alcohol content will ensure this immune-supporting tincture remains shelf-stable and ready for you for several years.