Ground Elder Tincture

A slow steeping of roots, shadow, and memory

Some plants don’t ask to be noticed.
They spread quietly – under hedges, between stones, beside forgotten paths.
Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria) is one of them – ancient, persistent, quietly wise. To work with this plant is to listen beneath the surface.

Creating a tincture from its leaves or roots is a way to preserve that quiet power – drop by drop, day by day.

Traditional Tincture Preparation

Ingredients
– Fresh or dried Ground Elder leaves or roots (roughly chopped or ground)
– High-proof alcohol (vodka or grain alcohol, at least 40%)
– A glass jar with a tight lid
– Time and patience

The Making

1. Fill a clean jar about halfway with the plant material.

2. Cover fully with alcohol – the liquid should rise a few centimeters above the herbs.

3. Seal and place the jar in a dark, cool space.

4. Let it steep for 4–6 weeks, shaking gently every few days.

5. Strain through a fine cloth or mesh into a dark dropper bottle. Label with the plant name and date.

How to Use

This is a concentrated herbal extract. Traditionally, a few drops are diluted in water and taken with guidance from an experienced herbalist. It may also become part of your seasonal plant rituals or energetic practices.

Remember: the strength of a tincture mirrors the patience of its making.

Let the Wild Guide You

To craft a tincture is to meet the plant in stillness.
To steep, to wait, to taste what cannot be rushed.

Ground Elder – Earth’s quiet teacher. Let her speak through your hands.