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So, a while back, I shared a you tube with my family on how some folks used sweet gum balls to make a tincture that is supposed to provide some health benefits. One of those benefits is as a kind of “tamiflu” anti-viral tincture. Another benefit was to help lower blood pressure.
Well, I was very intrigued with the idea of making some sweet gum ball tincture but we don’t have a sweet gum tree. Dad and Mom have one in their yard, but it must be either a female or a “gelded” male, as it has no balls.
Well, Dad mentioned that he thought he remembered a sweet gum tree being in Uncle Dale and Aunt Naomi Smith’s front yard. Their grandson Kevin Smith currently lives there so I explained to him that I was hoping to start making a batch of Grannyma’s Magical Sweet Gum Ball Tincture. I asked if he did have a sweet gum tree and if he did, did it have balls?
Well, Kevin checked and it sure did have balls and I could have some. I told him that I could come pick them whenever it was convenient for him; but he very generously picked me a box full and mailed them overnight to me.
So, I had my sweet gum balls and now I needed the one other ingredient, a bottle of at least 100 proof liquor. Now, I am not much of a drinker, but if I had any leftovers, I’d prefer they be vodka.
The day I received my sweet gum balls, I asked my husband if he could stop by a liquor store the next day and get me a big bottle of vodka and it needed to be at least 100 proof vodka.
Well, he looked at me like I was asking for the moon and said, “100 proof, why do you need that high of a proof?”
I was kind of taken aback by his question and said, “What do you mean that high of a proof? That is only 50% alcohol. Does vodka come lower proof than 100 proof?” I never realized that you could buy “baby” vodka.
Well, I explained that I required at least 100 proof because anything lower and my tincture could spoil. I didn’t want that to happen as my gum ball supply would be depleted.
So, the next day, my husband told me that he was going to get my vodka for me. I took my gum balls to the kitchen and started preparing them for the tincture. I chopped them into pieces and I wanna tell you that chopping sweet gum balls can cause some blisters! Then I placed my chopped sweet gum balls into two quart jars just as my vodka arrived.
Well, my hubby exclaimed that that bottle of vodka had cost over 40 dollars! It really wasn’t that big of a bottle either; it wasn’t the kind that even needed a handle. I guess he mentioned the high price to the liquor store clerk as the clerk told him that he could get a lower proof for cheaper. My husband told him that his wife had asked him to bring back nothing lower than 100 proof. The clerk probably thought I was a drunk and didn’t realize the budding herbalist that I may become.
So, I poured my vodka into my awaiting jars filled with chopped sweet gum balls and put them aside to work.
The sweet gum ball mixture worked for over 6 weeks on the shelf of a closet. I took it out in preparation for straining it to get the final tincture. Prior to straining, the mixture was very dark, and it was difficult to see the chopped sweet gum balls inside.
I spread several layers of the cheesecloth over a bowl and poured the contents of the jars into it.
And here is the final result; a couple bowls of vodka soaked sweet gum ball pieces, and a jar of triple strained tincture. I hope that I won't need the tincture, but I have it if I do.
Later, my cousin Kevin messaged me asking if my “medicine” had worked and I told him that I hadn't needed it yet. I told him that I wasn’t sure if the gum balls would work or not, but the 100 proof vodka might make a person feel better anyway!
Mom and Dad asked me how my gum ball tincture was coming along too. I told them that I hadn't had a need for it yet but I was looking forward to trying it if I ever did.
Mom laughed and said, “Don, we will probably be seeing April driving around selling snake oil before long.”
I laughed and told her that I would get me an ice cream truck that plays a bluegrass tune, and drive around during flu season giving out Grannyma’s Magical Sweet Gum Ball Tincture. Of course, I will make no health claims and it will be free.
Of course, I might have to start charging to cover the vodka cost. Come to think of it, I will probably have to hire a bodyguard. I am sure that the Tamiflu makers might put out a hit on me.
So, one day during flu season, if you see an ice cream truck playing bluegrass in the neighborhood, come out and have a spot of Grannyma’s Magical Sweet Gum Ball Tincture. It may not have any health benefits, but you just might feel better anyway!
Since writing this blog, I have sampled my tincture a couple times when experiencing viral type symptoms. I took one teaspoon of the tincture a couple times a day for a day or two. The taste leaves a lot to be desired, but it MAY have helped to decrease my symptoms. It is difficult to be certain though. I am certain that it didn’t kill me!
