Does anyone know why some remedies and herbal tinctures are prepared in such
a strong alcohol base? My understanding is that 40% alcohol is enough to
preserve (did I remember that right?), but some use up to 90% alcohol.
Just curious!
Shannon
Alcohol content
Re: Alcohol content
Hi Shannon
it's not so much a matter of preserving but of extracting the differing
types of properties from the herbs i.e.
for Arctostaphylos [Bearberry] the B.P.C 1934 suggest that 25% alcohol is
needed to extract the properties i.e. tannins, gallic and ellagic acids,
glycosides, etc from the leaves for a 1:1 liquid extract
whereas
Balm of Gilead [Gileadensis] is recommended to be prepared as a liquid
extract in 90% alcohol.
Average for 1:1 liquid extracts seems to be 25% alcohol whereas tinctures
1:5 to 1:10 use higher alcohol such as Barberry [contains yellow alkaloids
i.e. berberine] 1:10 in 60% alcohol
as apposed to Juniper which is recommend to be prepare din 45% alcohol for
1:5 tincture to release resins, sugar and juniperin and other acids
Hope this is somewhat helpful.
Beverly
it's not so much a matter of preserving but of extracting the differing
types of properties from the herbs i.e.
for Arctostaphylos [Bearberry] the B.P.C 1934 suggest that 25% alcohol is
needed to extract the properties i.e. tannins, gallic and ellagic acids,
glycosides, etc from the leaves for a 1:1 liquid extract
whereas
Balm of Gilead [Gileadensis] is recommended to be prepared as a liquid
extract in 90% alcohol.
Average for 1:1 liquid extracts seems to be 25% alcohol whereas tinctures
1:5 to 1:10 use higher alcohol such as Barberry [contains yellow alkaloids
i.e. berberine] 1:10 in 60% alcohol
as apposed to Juniper which is recommend to be prepare din 45% alcohol for
1:5 tincture to release resins, sugar and juniperin and other acids
Hope this is somewhat helpful.
Beverly
Re: Alcohol content
Shannon forgot to mention
Barberry appears to be being extracted from the bark
juniper from the fruits and balm of gilead from the buds.
Beverly
Barberry appears to be being extracted from the bark
juniper from the fruits and balm of gilead from the buds.
Beverly
-
Ellen Madono
- Posts: 2012
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 10:00 pm
Alcohol content
Dear Shannon,
I think this is off topic, which may be taboo. Do you know?
I have been puzzling over this too. Some elements in the plant seem to be more soluble in alcohol and others in water. Similar to water, the properties of alcohol appear to be complex. I see in explanations of different herbs that one herb be tinctured in alcohol and the other boiled in water. Why this is, I would be curious to know. It has something to do with the valued element in the herb. This is for extraction in a tincture, not only for preservation. When making a herbal tincture I soak in alcohol and then boil the left over herbs. This is my common sense not a teacher's instructions. To preserve the tincture, I mix the boiled herbal tea with the alcohol extract. (common sense.) To answer your question, I guess that the higher proof alcohol must pull out more of the herb faster, but I have never read this. It is as if the alcohol were digesting or cooking the raw herb (What my Chinese Herbal Medicine teacher told me). Raw herbs require more energy from the body to be absorbed. Some herbs are more difficult to digest. In such cases, more herb is required. So, if the herb is difficult to digest, getting it into alcohol is advantageous, especially if the patient is weak or the herb is expensive.
Blessings,
Ellen
I think this is off topic, which may be taboo. Do you know?
I have been puzzling over this too. Some elements in the plant seem to be more soluble in alcohol and others in water. Similar to water, the properties of alcohol appear to be complex. I see in explanations of different herbs that one herb be tinctured in alcohol and the other boiled in water. Why this is, I would be curious to know. It has something to do with the valued element in the herb. This is for extraction in a tincture, not only for preservation. When making a herbal tincture I soak in alcohol and then boil the left over herbs. This is my common sense not a teacher's instructions. To preserve the tincture, I mix the boiled herbal tea with the alcohol extract. (common sense.) To answer your question, I guess that the higher proof alcohol must pull out more of the herb faster, but I have never read this. It is as if the alcohol were digesting or cooking the raw herb (What my Chinese Herbal Medicine teacher told me). Raw herbs require more energy from the body to be absorbed. Some herbs are more difficult to digest. In such cases, more herb is required. So, if the herb is difficult to digest, getting it into alcohol is advantageous, especially if the patient is weak or the herb is expensive.
Blessings,
Ellen
-
Ellen Madono
- Posts: 2012
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 10:00 pm
Re: Alcohol content
Dear Beverly,
Your answer is so much better than mine. Where do you find the information concerning what % alcohol is needed?
Blessings,
Ellen Madono
Your answer is so much better than mine. Where do you find the information concerning what % alcohol is needed?
Blessings,
Ellen Madono
-
Ellen Madono
- Posts: 2012
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 10:00 pm
Re: Alcohol content
Dear Shannon,
Are you also asking about reproducing homeopathic remedies from alcohol on to a sugar pill? Try putting 40% alcohol on a sugar pellet. You will get a sticky mess in five minutes. 90% will maintain the shape of the pellet. 40% will prevent the water dilution of a remedy from going bad during summer heat.
Blessings,
Ellen Madono
Are you also asking about reproducing homeopathic remedies from alcohol on to a sugar pill? Try putting 40% alcohol on a sugar pellet. You will get a sticky mess in five minutes. 90% will maintain the shape of the pellet. 40% will prevent the water dilution of a remedy from going bad during summer heat.
Blessings,
Ellen Madono
-
Shannon Nelson
- Posts: 8848
- Joined: Fri Jun 28, 2002 10:00 pm
Re: Alcohol content
Great, thankyou! Makes sense.
But remedies too come in a wide range of alcohol content. Any thoughts
about that?
Shannon
on 3/11/04 9:01 AM, ehc at ehc@austarnet.com.au wrote:
But remedies too come in a wide range of alcohol content. Any thoughts
about that?
Shannon
on 3/11/04 9:01 AM, ehc at ehc@austarnet.com.au wrote:
-
Julian Winston
- Posts: 622
- Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:00 pm
Re: Alcohol content
Shannon asked:
It has to do with the fact that the stuff which constitute plants is
more readily dissolved (and thus extracted) in alcohol than in water.
JW
It has to do with the fact that the stuff which constitute plants is
more readily dissolved (and thus extracted) in alcohol than in water.
JW
Re: Alcohol content
Hello Ellen
information I think is based on the British Pharmaceutical Codex.
Beverly
information I think is based on the British Pharmaceutical Codex.
Beverly
Re: Alcohol content
Hi Shannon,
not sure it what you are referring here.
Do you mean homeopathic remedies.?
someone mentioned I think about the different alcohol strengths - i.e. I
think I have the principle correct if not the actual details here - if I
order 30c potencies they will usually come in a low alchol content i.e.
30ish% for dispensing direct to the patient but if I want to use a
medicating potency under 200c it will be put into 96% alcohol so that the
pellets keep shape and are not sticky when they are medicated. Potencies
200c and over automatically come in 96% strength I think anyway.
This may not be what you are asking
Bevelry
not sure it what you are referring here.
Do you mean homeopathic remedies.?
someone mentioned I think about the different alcohol strengths - i.e. I
think I have the principle correct if not the actual details here - if I
order 30c potencies they will usually come in a low alchol content i.e.
30ish% for dispensing direct to the patient but if I want to use a
medicating potency under 200c it will be put into 96% alcohol so that the
pellets keep shape and are not sticky when they are medicated. Potencies
200c and over automatically come in 96% strength I think anyway.
This may not be what you are asking
Bevelry