Why some herbalists infuse tinctures, oils, or tea under the sun, and why others prefer the dark?
One of the fascinating things about herbalism is that different herbalists sometimes use very different methods while working toward the same goal: creating potent, beautiful plant remedies.
A question that often comes up is: Should we place remedies in sunlight or in darkness?
If you learn from several herbalists, you may hear both recommendations. Some place tinctures on sunny windowsills, while others insist they should always be stored in a dark cupboard. So where do these different approaches come from?
The answer lies in understanding both traditional practices and plant chemistry.
Why many herbalists keep tinctures in the dark?
The main reason many herbalists recommend preparing tinctures away from direct sunlight is because numerous plant compounds are sensitive to UV light and heat.
Plants contain a wide diversity of chemical constituents:
- volatile aromatic compounds,
- flavonoids,
- pigments,
- antioxidants,
- alkaloids,
- glycosides,
- essential oils.
Some of these compounds degrade when exposed to prolonged sunlight, especially UV radiation. Over time, this can alter:
- potency,
- aroma,
- colour,
- flavour,
- stability of the preparation.
This is one reason tinctures are traditionally stored in amber glass bottles and kept in cool, dark places once finished.
Keeping tinctures in darkness during preparation is therefore often an attempt to preserve the widest spectrum of sensitive plant constituents as intact as possible.
This approach is especially common with:
- aromatic herbs,
- flowers,
- plants rich in essential oils,
- brightly coloured herbs,
- delicate fresh plants.
Then why do some herbalists use sunlight?
The use of sunlight in herbal preparation also has historical and practical roots.
In some traditions, sunlight is believed to support extraction through gentle warmth. Heat can increase movement within the liquid and may help certain constituents dissolve more efficiently into alcohol or oil.
There is also an energetic and symbolic aspect in some herbal traditions, where sunlight is viewed as contributing vitality to the remedy.
In practice, many herbalists who place preparations in light are not necessarily exposing them to harsh UV radiation all day long. Sometimes the goal is simply mild warmth rather than direct solar exposure.
Older folk methods also often developed before modern understanding of photodegradation and oxidation of plant compounds.
The important nuance: not all remedies are the same
One of the key things in herbalism is understanding that different plants, and different preparations behave differently.
A tincture is not the same as an infused oil. A root is not the same as a flower. A resinous plant is not the same as a delicate aromatic leaf.
For example, I personally prefer keeping tinctures away from direct sunlight during preparation in order to better preserve sensitive plant chemicals.
However, one exception for me is St. John's wort infused-oil. When preparing St. John’s wort oil, I intentionally use the warmth of the sun to support the extraction into the oil. Without the sun warmth, the deep red oil was never a success. In my case, it seems that the warmth of the sun helps release the characteristic deep red compounds into the oil. But even then, I avoid exposing the preparation to direct UV light. I cover the jar with a craft paper bag or cloth so it receives gentle warmth while limiting direct light exposure to avoid degradation of chemical constituents.
This reflects something important in herbalism: good preparation methods are rarely rigid rules. They are usually thoughtful adaptations based on:
- the plant,
- the preparation type,
- the conditions available,
- and the tradition we work from.
Herbalism is both tradition and observation
Many herbal techniques have been passed down through generations long before modern laboratory analysis existed. Today, we also have increasing scientific understanding of oxidation, UV degradation and phytochemistry.
Rather than seeing traditional and scientific perspectives as opposed, they can often enrich one another.
That is part of what makes herbalism such a deep and living practice.
If you would like to learn more about making high-quality herbal remedies from local plants, you can join the summer CSA subscription. Members receive fresh herbs and education through the season and gain deeper insight into local herbalism and remedy making.
0 kommentarer