Article: Use of Alcohol in Herbal Liquids

[Guest guest]

Ever wonder WHY alcohol is used to make herbal tinctures and the like ..

well below is a good article with some answers

Happy reading!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

Aromatic Gifts That Sparkle!

<http://alittleolfactory.safeshopper.com/55/474.htm?503>

http://alittleolfactory.safeshopper.com/55/474.htm?503

 

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http://www.phytotherapies.org/articles_detail.cfm?id=49

 

 

Use of Alcohol in Herbal Liquids

 

 

Liquid preparations are widely used in herbal medicines for several

reasons. Liquids are easily combined in formulations, and, if properly

prepared, involve minimal pharmaceutical processing and therefore

faithfully reflect the chemical characteristics of the plant in a

compact, convenient dosage form. Liquids also confer considerable dosage

flexibility, especially relevant when prescribing low doses for small

children or high doses in acute cases. Liquids are readily absorbed and

well-suited to patients with immature or poor digestive processes.

 

 

A Traditional and Effective Solvent

 

 

Alcohol is a good solvent for herbal active components and is also an

excellent preservative. Alcohol has been used to make herbal

preparations for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. Old texts

describe steeping herbs in wine for long periods and then using the

resultant liquid.

 

 

Alcohol Improves Bioavailability

 

 

Results of a double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study on

children with chronic obstructed airways have been reported in the

Industry News section of the Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie. The

therapeutic effects of alcoholic and alcohol-free galenic extracts of

Ivy leaves (Hedera helix) were compared. Spirometric testing showed a

significant improvement in lung function for both products, which was

superior to conventional bronchodilators. However, it was shown that the

addition of alcohol to the preparation yielded an increase in

bioavailability of active components, and the dose of the alcohol-free

preparation needed to be adjusted to a higher level to obtain the same

effect. It is likely that alcohol acts to keep the active components in

solution after ingestion, thus facilitating their absorption into the

bloodstream.

 

 

A Small Amount of Alcohol Benefits Health

 

 

Some people are concerned about possible exposure to the toxic effects

of alcohol, such as during pregnancy. However, these toxic effects are

dose related and do not occur with the small quantities of alcohol

involved in a herbal preparation. For adverse effects to occur after

alcohol intake, the blood alcohol level must rise to a certain level. A

5 mL dose of herbal extract contains about as much alcohol as 1/6 of a

glass of beer or wine. Such a small intake of alcohol is rapidly

metabolised by the liver and consequently its effect on the blood

alcohol level may not even be measurable. A much higher intake of

alcohol would be required to overload the liver’s metabolizing capacity,

leading to significant blood alcohol levels and subsequent adverse

effects.

 

Moreover, the body is naturally conditioned to some exposure to alcohol

from ripe fruit and natural fermentation of food. Refrigeration has

minimized this exposure in industrialized countries, but human beings,

be they children or adults, have evolved and adapted to levels of

alcohol intake through food which are similar to those from herbal

extracts.

 

Recent research even suggests that a small amount of alcohol is actually

beneficial to health, a regular intake of a small amount of alcohol

lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease in three ways:

 

* alcohol raises high density lipoprotein cholesterol, the " good "

cholesterol

 

* alcohol reduces the risk of thrombosis by reducing the amount of

fibrinogen in the blood.

 

* alcohol reduces blood pressure

 

It is possible to remove alcohol from a formulation; it is, however,

costly and there are more problems associated with the manufacturing of

low alcohol preparations. The strong taste of alcohol-water preparations

can easily be modified by the addition of suitable flavouring mixtures.

 

 

 

References

 

 

1. Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie, Vol 18, p 296, 1997

 

2. Associate Professor Ian Puddey of the Royal Perth Hospital with

Norman Swan on the ABC (Australia) Health Report, 1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris ... very interesting reading. I make herbal tinctures and extracts

using alcohol. Of course the alcohols we use to make the extracts are

partially water and, according to Rosemary Gladstar, both the alcohol and

the water are necessary to extract the different plant components. I have

switched to using my herbal extracts instead of herbal teas in my products

because I feel like I'm getting more of the botanical benefits with fewer

preservation issues. I often tincture my herbs in combination, then they're

ready to be used ... especially in my herbal spritzers.

 

Thanks for the link ...

Linda Wallen

 

-

" Christine Ziegler " <chrisziggy

 

 

Ever wonder WHY alcohol is used to make herbal tinctures and the like ..

well below is a good article with some answers

Happy reading!