tincture  (tink-shur), n. 1. A highly potent liquid solution of an herbal substance(s) extracted in an alcohol base.  Usual oral dosage is as small as a few drops up to a mere teaspoon.

Tinctures are superior to other herbal preparations such as capsules, teas, infusions because many herbal/medicinal properties contained in the leaf, bark, nut, and root of herb are not water soluble, so the constituents are not fully released upon ingestion. Dried herbs, as in powders or capsules, can start to lose potency quickly and may not get assimilated upon digestion.  The herbs in a tincture are significantly more potent than other formulations. The alcohol helps tinctures assimilate into the bloodstream much more efficiently than other methods.  And as a final bonus, Alcohol allows your tincture to remain potent for years!