Homemade Kelp Tincture

Kelp is a seaweed rich in iodine, which is necessary for your thyroid gland to produce thyroxine. Without this hormone, your body develops hypothyroidism. You'll experience low energy, slow pulse, decreased appetite and sexual desire, weight gain, depression and severe constipation. Kelp tincture is one natural alternative you can try to normalize your thyroxine production.

Make Your Own Kelp Tincture

• You have a few options for preparing your kelp tincture. The most common one is to steep the plant, either fresh or dried, in drinkable alcohol. Ethanol and inexpensive vodka both work well. If you use fresh kelp, put a loose handful in a pint of alcohol. With dried kelp, measure 2 oz. per 1 pint of liquid.

  Let the kelp steep for a week, shaking or stirring the mixture from time to time. At the end of the week, strain it and discard the plant. Your tincture is then ready. Store it in a dark, cool place and your concoction will have a shelf life of 20 years.

  If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, replace the alcohol with glycerin or vinegar using the same proportions. The glycerin version is a good option if you plan to give your tincture to children. Recovering alcoholics might also prefer this option.

  In addition, you can turn your tincture into an herbal vinegar. Steep the kelp in plain vinegar and use it in salads.