It is well known to many herbs are more than just food. They can be life saving, in some instances, or than can be used just to maintain optimum health. Getting them and storing them can be a task though. Tinctures can be an efficient way of storing and using herbs, but they can be expensive at health food stores. Instead, consider making your own. It is really a simple matter. By making your own tincture, you can create hundreds of dollars in product for what would have been the price of a few bottles at a health food store.
Like building a house, or anything else, an end product is only going to be as good as the effort and materials put into it. As such, try to start with quality herbs from a reputable source. This may require looking into herbs a bit more, since there are many grades and qualities of herbs. As well, certain locations may be better known for producing a better quality herb, or for producing one having a chemical or characteristic you desire. Regardless, I suspect it safe to say even a lesser quality home made tincture is better to have than not having anything at all when you need it. You tinctures will improve with your interest and experience.
Once you acquire the herb you want to convert to a tincture, you can start by mashing or grinding it. Then, place it in a glass quart jar. Next, pour 100 proof vodka (some people use rum, depending on the herb and end result desired) over the top of the mix, covering it. Store the mix in a dark, cool place. This should be no less than two weeks and longer is desired. I prefer a month, but it is said some tinctures should be limited to a couple weeks preparation time to avoid developing negative effects, like bitterness (again, you'll have to do a bit of research). At least once a day, while storing the mix, shake it. When ready, just retrieve the liquid and discard the pulp. Centrifugal juicers do a wonder job of extracting most of the moisture. You can use whatever means is available to you though. A coffee filter can do, but it is a very slow process and the centrifugal means gives less waste.
The alcohol is a solvent and is necessary to extract the desired ingredients from the herb (e.g., cayenne, cilantro). Keep in mind though, other solvents can be used. Other solvents include water, vinegar and food grade glycerin. Alcohol is used because it provides the longest shelf life for the end product. Unfortunately, it may not be as effective in extracting all the desired ingredients, or retaining their value. As such, it pays to familiarize yourself with the process of tincturing by doing a bit of research. There is lots of information available on the web.
To cut costs more, you can work deals with friends and associates to share the expense of making tinctures, since you may not desire to have an entire quart of a given extract.