Herbal Tinctures

Herbal tinctures or liquid extracts are prepared for the purpose of concentrating the active parts of the herbs and are made up of base percentages of alcohol and water. The percentage of alcohol and water is unique to the herbs that are used. Some active ingredients are more soluble in alcohol and others more soluble in water. The herbs are placed into the solution (or solvent), and allowed to soak for varying periods of time until the active ingredients have been extracted into the alcohol/water solution. They are filtered, inspected, and then bottled.

Powdered herbal extracts are made by vacuum and/or low heat drying a liquid extract thus concentrating the herbs. This concentrated powder can then be used dry or re-diluted in a now more potent liquid form.

Certain ingredients can be extracted from the whole herb. This is done when the specific ingredient is perceived to have a unique, and more specific effect on human beings. These extracts are made with a variety of solvents such as acetone, hexane or methyl alcohol. The ingredient can then be used by itself or reconstituted into the original whole herb giving it more of this active ingredient than it has in its whole form. This process of producing "Standardized Extracts", is controversial as it changes the natural form of the herb and likely changing its synergistic effects.

Some companies use vegetable glycerin, a non-alcoholic extract to prepare tinctures. Alcohol is a superior solvent to glycerin and a much better preservant. Glycerin is a good substitute however when alcohol is found to be an irritant to a particular individual. If necessary, alcoholic tinctures may be diluted in water or juice or allowed to evaporate in a glass of warm water in order to reduce any irritating effects.