The alcohol concentration needed depends on the materials being extracted.

Plant extractions can also be made using alcohol-free liquids, like vinegar or glycerin. These aren’t technically tinctures.

The term tincture refers specifically to extractions made with alcohol that is safe for internal use. Rubbing alcohol is not a safe tincture solvent.

Tinctures can also be made using animal or mineral material. However, plant-based tinctures are the most common.

How to Make a Mushroom Tincture?

Making a mushroom tincture is pretty simple but there’s one area that varies based on personal preference: the double extraction method.

Mushrooms contain beneficial water-soluble polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble triterpenes and other compounds.

For this reason, you’ll get the most benefits if you put them through both a water and alcohol extraction process.

Some people like to extract a portion in water and a portion in alcohol, then combine the two.

The following method extracts the mushrooms in alcohol first, then water.

Feel free to experiment on your own and find your favorite tincturing process.

1. Collect Your Materials

• Dried or fresh mushrooms
• Ethanol, 190 proof Everclear, or 80 proof Vodka (or higher)
• Filtered or distilled water
• Mason jar or glass bottle with lid
• Large stockpot
• Strainer or cheesecloth
• Mason jar or glass bottle to store your tincture
• Funnel (optional, but handy)
• Labels

2. Alcohol Extraction

1. Put your mushrooms in a mason jar
2. Cover them in alcohol, leaving around ½ inch of space
3. Label the container with the date
4. Leave in a cool, dark area for around 4 to 6 weeks
5. Strain the mushrooms and save the tincture liquid in a clean container
6. Label your tincture with the date and mushroom variety

3. Hot Water Extraction

1. Place your mushrooms in your pot
2. Add around four cups of filtered water for every cup of mushrooms
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently for two to three hours
4. Turn off the heat and let the mushrooms come down to room temperature
5. Strain the water extraction and combine it with your reserved tincture
6. Store your tincture in a cool, dark place

How to Take Mushroom Tinctures

Take an ml or two whenever you feel for it. Just don’t overdo things. Every few hours should be safe. 

You can mix your tinctures into food, coffee, smoothies, juice, water, or just dose yourself straight up.

Use the benefits of the particular mushroom you extracted as a guide for when you should take your tincture. We’ll get into those below.

Benefits of Taking Mushroom Tinctures

Medicinal mushrooms have been used to support human health for thousands of years. They’re used to treat infections, fight cancer, boost immunity, increase performance, prevent aging, and enhance beauty.

They contain beneficial proteins, glycoproteins, triterpenes, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and more.

Proteins and Glycoproteins

Mushrooms contain all nine essential amino acids. These proteins also have a high branched-chain amino acid structure, which is typically only found in animal proteins.

Some of these form complex compounds with other nutrients, which show strong anti-cancer and immune-supporting properties.

Glycoproteins are compounds containing carbohydrates (glycans) linked to amino acids. These protein-carbohydrate chains help to support our immune system.

A glycoprotein was isolated from a golden oyster mushroom which demonstrated a growth-inhibiting effect on leukemia cells.

Mushroom glycoproteins have also been proven to induce immunomodulation on inflammatory cytokines.

Triterpenes and Terpenoids

Triterpenes are plant metabolites. Mushroom triterpenes show antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-hepatitis and antimalarial. They are considered to be proven immunomodulators.

Terpenoids are chemical compounds found in almost all plants. They give plants their flavor, aroma, and color.

They also protect plants from insects, herbivores, fungal diseases, and infestations. When we eat them, they protect us as well.

Mushrooms are a rich source of bioactive terpenoids. Mushroom-derived terpenoids have different properties.

Lab tests of various mushroom terpenoids show antioxidative, antihistamine, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, and anticancer properties.

Polysaccharides and More

Mushroom polysaccharides are mainly alpha and beta-glucans. These complex prebiotic carbohydrates are antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antiviral, and obesity-fighting.

Mushrooms are also rich in peptides, sterols, isoflavones, antioxidants, ergosteroids, flavonoids, nucleotides, vitamins, and minerals. 

One way that mushrooms support our health is simply by providing a large and diverse quantity of nutrients.

Here are some of the more common medicinal mushrooms.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

Reishi has historically been used to treat infections and support the immune system.

It’s also excellent for stress reduction, relieving fatigue, building strength, stamina, and aiding restful sleep.

Reishi is taken to support conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular issues, the flu, cancer support, respiratory illnesses, and liver or kidney problems.

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)

Chaga is antioxidant-rich and great for boosting your immune system.

It’s anti-inflammatory, prevents the formation of cytokines, fights cancer, and can lower blood sugar.

Along with supporting overall health, chaga is also used for diabetes, heart disease, and cholesterol reduction.

Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

If peak mental performance is what you’re after, lion’s mane is the mushroom for you.

Lion’s mane contains hericenones and erinacines. These compounds can stimulate the growth of brain cells.

It’s been shown to protect against dementia, memory loss, and neuronal plaque damage from Alzheimer’s.

It can also alleviate anxiety and depression.

This is in addition to general health benefits like antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunity-boosting, and anti-cancer properties.

Shiitake (Lentinus edodes)

Shiitakes are excellent for lowering cholesterol, boosting immunity, reducing arterial fat, and healing oxidative damage.

They also support the adrenal glands, natural energy levels, and good brain performance.

Shiitakes are considered to be beauty mushrooms. They’re rich in minerals like selenium and zinc. Eating shiitakes can improve acne-prone skin and fight signs of aging.

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor)

Turkey tails are excellent for gut health and show strong anti-cancer properties.

Turkey tail mushrooms contain polysaccharopeptides called krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP).

PSK and PSP activate the immune system and suppress inflammation.

They also have over 35 different phenolic antioxidant compounds, making these mushrooms particularly effective for the immune system.

Maitake or Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa)

Maitake mushrooms have immune supportive, antitumor, and antiviral compounds.

These mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, beta-glucans, and trace minerals like copper. They may be beneficial against common viruses like the cold and flu.

Maitakes are generally adaptogenic, supporting our overall health and well-being.

Maitake is shown to work even better when combined with shiitake mushrooms.

Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis)

Cordyceps might be parasitic to the insect larvae they grow on, but they’re incredibly powerful supporters of human health.

This is the physical athlete’s mushroom.

They boost ATP (essentially creates bodily energy), are anti-aging, reduce fatigue, increase the sex drive (in both genders), and increase strength.

Cordyceps have also been shown to have anti-tumor and diabetes-fighting properties.

Mushroom Tincture Recipes

Want to jumpstart your mushroom blending creativity? Try one of these tincture blend ideas.

Mushroom Tincture for Anxiety

Blend lion’s mane and reishi.

Mushrooms for Beauty

Combine shiitake for skin benefits, reishi for rest, and chaga for increased antioxidants.

Flu-Combatting Mushroom Tincture

Combine lion’s mane, turkey tail, maitake, chaga and reishi for an immune-boosting, cytokine-fighting, rest-supporting tincture.