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The advantages of tinctures, extract
powders and raw powders: We have always agreed that tinctures are probably the most
efficient and quick acting blood-absorbable way one can benefit from
herbs. We have also had a lot of requests to offer more of our products in
tincture form. As a result, we are in the process of making more and more
of our previously only powdered and encapsulated products now available in
tinctures. Our tinctures are made right here at Plant Cures from fresh (or
freshly dried) raw plants extracted into an alcohol/water base (Usually
about 40% (80 proof) alcohol as the effective solvent) The raw herbs are
packed tightly into ½ gallon “Mason jar” type containers and thoroughly
soaked with this solution. There are a number of reasons why alcohol tinctures work so
well as the deliverer for herbal medicine. The unfortunate result of extreme abuse of alcohol
(cirrhosis of the liver) suggests that alcohol is carried directly to the
liver before it is broken down. The liver then delivers it quickly to the
bloodstream (Which can be felt in the brain as “drunkenness” if we take
two much) Of course the brain is not the only place it is delivered. Our
bloodstream quickly takes it to our entire organ system. A very good example of utilizing the very fast “liver
delivered” healing action of tinctures is in our “Viral
Defense” Also tinctures preserve the plant chemistry by locking the
molecules of the plant in with the alcohol and as long as the cap is kept
tight, these tinctures can be just as potent as they were when new for 100
years or more! We do, of course, realize that if you are taking a large amount
of separate tonic herbs (Say 6 herbs) in tincture form at full dose all at
the same time the total alcohol content of each dose (About a teaspoon
each) can add up. (6 teaspoons is equivalent to a small (1 oz) shot of 80
proof brandy. This is fine in the evening but not necessarily a great
thing in the morning when tonic herbs are usually taken. In this case we
recommend you take one or two of those tonic herbs you want to get to your
system the fastest in tincture form (Say if you want to benefit from
Siberian Ginseng for a work out) and take the others in powder form. (All
of which can be mixed together into water, juice or a morning
“smoothie”) Full spectrum 5:1 concentrated
powdered extracts: Our full spectrum 5:1 powdered plant extracts are (As 5:1
suggests) five times as strong as the fresh raw plant powder would be.
This is accomplished by extracting at very low heat in an alcohol/water
solution and reducing this liquid down to a solid state. This still leaves
the plant in its whole balanced chain of natural chemicals without
isolating or concentrating one more than another. (Hence the word,
“full-spectrum”) These powdered extracts are the same powder we put into
capsules for convenience but taking the extract powder dissolved in liquid
is the most body-efficient and by far the most economical way. (We are
offering more and more of our encapsulated products in both tinctures and
extract powders to help save you money) On a few items (Such as our He Shou Wu) you will also see the
availability in raw powder form. This is sometimes the best way to take
some herbs as they just seem to function best by letting the body’s
digestion do the extracting. In the case of He Shou Wu, some people do best with tincture
while some people do best with 5:1 extract powder while still others do
best with the raw powder. I personally take the raw powder in a smoothie
in the morning and the tincture at night. He Shou Wu, by the way, this
is my personal favorite tonic
herb. It has restored so much movement in my body. Especially my knees.
I also take He Shou Wu daily in the formula called
Life Support as it seems to synergistically work very well with Siberian
Ginseng, Gotu Kola, and Wolfberry extract powders. Another example of a great working raw powder (In formula)
would be Clean Sweep capsules. These laxative herbs seem to work best in
the raw powder form or in tincture form which will be available
soon
They are allowed to soak for 2-3 weeks before
poring off the finished plant extraction.
We
tincture only one type of herb in each jar and then, if called for,
combine the extracts in there correct proportions from separate tinctures
for making our formulas.
At left are the two herbs in our
Strong Defense formula in front of the jars is Ling Zhi
In the case of herbal tinctures, the alcohol quickly brings
the plant’s wonderful natural phytochemicals right along with it as the
delivery package. This would explain why a glass or two of wine (Or other
small amount of alcohol) can be good for the body as long as it is taken
along with good healthy food. One must also realize that If taken with
unhealthy food alcohol can carry the “unhealthiness” quickly to the
bloodstream as well (Of course they don’t tell you that on TV)
Fine Raw Powder: