TINCTURES - which alcohols are best

[Guest guest]

Here is some info that I can give you at present... I'll have to search my info for more.

 

Generally, modern tinctures are made by soaking the botanicals in vodka,brandy or 'grain alcohol'

 

Vodka is the least poisonous of the high proof alcohols. In Russia, people drink a liter or more of vodka daily for forty or fifty years. "

 

Suzi

 

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[Guest guest]

The only problem with any "commercial" Bourbon / Scotch / Gin / Rum etc. is that these sometimes have other chemicals in them that are not the greatest and can even be detrimental. You just don't know with these. A good gin is made with Juniper Berries, but you never know with the commercial boys what shortcuts they have in mind when making this stuff. On the other hand, Vodka is nothing but straight ethanol mixed with distilled water. There are no more shortcuts to do in order to create the cheapest liquor ) than in Vodka. EverClear is even better as you can then control the quality of the distilled water you use to cut it.

 

I personally use 200 Proof / 100% Alcohol (USP Pharmaceutical Grade), that I buy directly from a large distillery, and which I normally cut 50-50 (= 100 Proof) with water from my own water still.

 

The only time I use any stronger mixture is when I'm working with the tougher roots. I then might go as high as 140 Proof.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Love,

 

Doc

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

 

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Suzanne

herbal remedies

Friday, December 12, 2003 7:39 PM

Re: [herbal remedies] TINCTURES - which alcohols are best

 

Clear, like vodka (100 proof) everclear are best... at the moment I can't remember why... but DOC IF YOU'RE READING.... REFRESH MY MEMORY....

Suzipeacefulglow <peacefulglow wrote:

I'm used to cayenne powder, but not a cayenne pepper, mixed with honey. I use habeneros in the total tonic (and have been eating them in mexican food for some time), so I thought I would tantalize my culinary senses through variety and try to hunt down a real cayenne. LOL Thanks againBy the way Suzi, for years I'm made my tinctures with bourbon. Is there a value to using vodka over bourbon? herbal remedies , Suzanne wrote:> try some of the local grocery stores.... many will carry habeneros or can get them.. or order them on line..... if you're not used to cayenne,,,, use a little less.> Suzi> > peacefulglow wrote:> thanks suzi, I've called all the pakistani, east indian, mexican, > lebanese and whole foods markets I know about in the detroit area and > no one has whole cayenne peppers. So, although I don't like to make > tinctures this way, I will have to do so with the powder. I'll use > your rule of thumb. thanks much. dolly

[Guest guest]

Yes, you can do this Ken.

This is what they call 3X'ing a formula. I have no clue as to why it would be 3X??? as it would only seem to double it in my books. I could have false data on this one???

It will goose up the strength of any remedy and I've done this several times. However, best is to put tons of plant matter in there the first time.

You get to a certain point where your menstrum becomes saturated with the biochemicals of the herbs, and you can get no more out doing this.

Because of the moisture in certain herbs and because of their existing chemicals, you don't really have a 50% mixture even after your first pressing and the alcohol content goes down. This doesn't matter though or hurt in the formula's efficacy.

Love,

Doc

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

 

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KEN ROARK

herbal remedies

Monday, December 15, 2003 5:21 PM

Re: [herbal remedies] TINCTURES - which alcohols are best

 

hi doc

 

i was wandering about something, and wanted to know if i could get your take on it?

 

i make a lot of tinctures for myself & family

 

100 proof vodka is pretty expensive (glad i don't drink)

 

when making a tincture, i use a mason jar with a good sealing lid.........my question is this....

 

if there is no evaporation in the process in making my tinctures, can i take the tincture (after it is pressed out)which still is 50% alcohol, add it to the same amount of herbs and re-tincture.........thus giving me a second tincture which is twice as strong as the first.........cut my dosage in half, thus cuting my cost of alcohol in half.

 

just a thought.......whats your opinion?

 

ken

[Guest guest]

Hi Ken,

 

I'm not Doc but I think I can answer this one. You can only tincture your tincture until it reaches saturation. Once it is saturated with all it can hold it will no longer take in any more of the herb you are trying to tincture. Be that 3,4,or 5 tinctures. Best way to find out is to try it for yourself and see. After every tincture set a little aside to test when you have completed all. Then test them either by taste, chemical analysis (if you have access to a lab).

 

Remember too, that more is not always better. Sometimes a too strong or stout tincture will not be as effective as a properly made simple tincture.

 

Guess it all depends on what you are tincturing and why you wish it to be so saturated.

 

Don Quai

 

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KEN ROARK

herbal remedies

Wednesday, December 17, 2003 1:19 AM

Re: [herbal remedies] TINCTURES - which alcohols are best

 

thanks doc

 

one more question please

 

how many times can you use the tincture to make another tincture, without risking the quality of the finished product.

 

thanks

 

ken

 

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Dr. Ian Shillington

herbal remedies

Monday, December 15, 2003 10:36 PM

Re: [herbal remedies] TINCTURES - which alcohols are best

 

Yes, you can do this Ken.

This is what they call 3X'ing a formula. I have no clue as to why it would be 3X??? as it would only seem to double it in my books. I could have false data on this one???

It will goose up the strength of any remedy and I've done this several times. However, best is to put tons of plant matter in there the first time.

You get to a certain point where your menstrum becomes saturated with the biochemicals of the herbs, and you can get no more out doing this.

Because of the moisture in certain herbs and because of their existing chemicals, you don't really have a 50% mixture even after your first pressing and the alcohol content goes down. This doesn't matter though or hurt in the formula's efficacy.

Love,

Doc

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Depends how much herb you use in the first place and how soon you reach your saturation point.

If you are looking to "strenghen" your formula, you could also put a tincture in a dehydrator and "evaporate" some of the menstrum off. This would make it stronger by volume. Remember, we are not talking Rocket Science here, and to try to "standardize" a dosage is the first step leading to giving the Giant Pharmaceuticals the monopoly they so much want.

 

Don't get too significant about this. Just make a nice strong tincture in the first place = at least 2/3rds to 3/4ers plant matter in your tincturing jar.

 

Not that you'll do too much damage in going with an ultra strong tincture, but why bring on a healing crisis if you don't have to. It's better to start off with a "normally" strong tincture and with a moderate dosage, and then work up to stronger dosages and formulae as time goes by. It truly is a question of going into a healing crisis or turning on a detox. When one is cleansing, you can get away with more.

 

It is always best to approach healing on a gradient scale. As I said, not that you'll hurt yourself, but why get sick or go through a lot of unpleasantness if you don't have to.

 

Love,

 

Doc

 

PS. Then again, you have wild ass herbalists like Don and me who'll throw caution to the wind and take a pint or two of anything just to see what kind of effect can be created. However, not everyone is as healthy as the two of us ;o) If you are in excellent health and are not toxic to begin with, you can get away with these hairbrained adventures LOL ;o)

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

 

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KEN ROARK

herbal remedies

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 5:19 PM

Re: [herbal remedies] TINCTURES - which alcohols are best

 

thanks doc

 

one more question please

 

how many times can you use the tincture to make another tincture, without risking the quality of the finished product.

 

thanks

 

ken