SWAN BLOG
September 9, 2025
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When we speak about plant medicine, the conversation often turns toward the forms in which herbs can be prepared. Two of the most common — and sometimes confused — methods are the infusion and the tincture. Both are liquid-based extractions. Both hold deep value in herbalism, and both are time-tested ways of carrying the spirit and science of the plant into the human body. Yet, they are also distinct in how they are made, how they act, and how we might choose to use them.
At Swan Apothecary, the work with plants is not simply about crafting products; it is about creating pathways of relationship between the plant and the person. Founder Robin has spent years weaving together traditional practices with modern insights, helping individuals navigate complex health concerns through the wisdom of herbs. With this foundation, let us explore the difference between an infusion vs. tincture in a way that is both grounded and accessible.
A tincture is an alcohol-based preparation of plant material. For centuries, tinctures have been used across cultures because alcohol is an efficient solvent. It draws out a wide spectrum of plant constituents, including resins, alkaloids, and volatile oils. This means that tinctures often carry both the water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds, resulting in a potent and long-lasting extract.
To make a tincture, you cover dried or fresh plant material with high-proof alcohol, such as 190-proof food-grade ethanol. The plant then sits in this menstruum for a period ranging from minutes to weeks, depending on the tradition, the plant, and the desired effect. After steeping, you strain the liquid and obtain a concentrated solution that carries the essence of the plant.
In clinical herbalism, practitioners often favor tinctures because they stay shelf-stable, allow easy dosing, and deliver precise, measurable amounts of herbal medicine. Clinicians commonly use them for conditions that require ongoing support, such as chronic pain, anxiety regulation, immune resilience, or nervous system balance.
In modern cannabis medicine, tinctures often serve as the first step toward producing concentrated oils such as RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) or FECO (Fully Extracted Cannabis Oil). The process begins with soaking cannabis in alcohol, then straining the liquid, and finally carefully heating the solution to evaporate the alcohol. What remains is the dark, resinous concentrate often called “black gold.”
This process shows the versatility of tinctures — people can use them directly or transform them into other forms, depending on their needs. For some, the tincture itself provides enough support; for others, a more concentrated preparation works better.
An infusion, by contrast, is a fat-based preparation. Rather than alcohol, the plant material is combined with a carrier oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, or hemp seed oil. Through gentle, low-heat processing, the fat molecules absorb and hold the plant’s beneficial compounds.
Why fat? Many of the plant’s constituents — especially cannabinoids and other lipophilic compounds — dissolve and deliver best through fat. Using fat not only improves absorption but also adds nutritional benefits, especially when the oils contain omega-3 fatty acids. Hemp seed oil, for instance, is not only an excellent solvent for cannabinoids but also supports brain health and inflammatory balance in its own right.
Infusions tend to be gentler in flavor and effect compared to tinctures. They may be preferred by individuals who wish to avoid alcohol, or who seek the additional therapeutic properties of the carrier oil itself.
Though both are liquid extractions, their differences are meaningful:
Which is better? In truth, neither holds superiority. Both have equal value — it is a matter of context, constitution, and intention.
For some individuals, tinctures provide the exact concentration and stability needed for ongoing health concerns. For others, an infusion feels more nourishing, especially when the carrier oil brings its own therapeutic gifts. At Swan Apothecary, both are seen as companions in the broader journey of plant medicine — different doors leading to the same house of healing.
In herbalism, the preparation of medicine is never just a technical act; it is also relational. Whether creating a tincture or infusion, there is intention behind the process: the slow steeping of alcohol or oil with the plant, the straining and bottling, the offering of the medicine to the body.
Robin often emphasizes that this relationship is as important as the outcome. In working with plant medicine, we are not merely consuming products; we are entering into a dialogue with the natural world. Each drop of tincture or spoonful of infusion is an invitation to remember that connection.
Clinicians often choose tinctures in settings where precise dosing matters — for example, when supporting neurodivergent nervous systems, regulating anxiety, or strengthening immune resilience during long-term conditions.
People at home often choose infusions for daily nourishment and gentle support — for instance, by adding infused oils to meals, using them in skin care, or weaving them into evening rituals for relaxation.
Both methods can also be combined. For instance, a person might use a tincture during the day for its fast-acting qualities while incorporating an oil infusion at night for its slower, sustaining presence.
When bringing plant medicine into the body, the integrity of the preparation matters deeply. At Swan Apothecary, all products are kosher, vegan, cruelty-free, crafted in the USA, and free from dyes or fillers. These choices reflect a commitment to transparency and care, ensuring that what reaches your body is aligned with both health and ethics.
The question of infusion vs. tincture is not one of competition, but of complement. Each method carries its own strengths, its own wisdom, its own way of inviting plants into the body. To learn them both is to widen your vocabulary of healing, and to give yourself more options for meeting your unique needs.
Robin’s guidance in this area reminds us that herbal medicine is never one-size-fits-all. It is about listening — to your body, to the plants, and to the relationship that forms between them.
If you are curious about how tinctures or infusions may support your health, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our Founder Robin Swan. Robin helps individuals explore which preparations and plants may be most supportive for their needs, drawing from both traditional practice and modern clinical insight.
You may also explore our line of herbal tinctures and infused oils, crafted with care and guided by years of practice in plant medicine.
Healing begins with a single step — sometimes that step is simply learning the difference between an infusion and a tincture. From there, a whole landscape of possibility opens.
