Correct alcohol % for herbal extracts

[Guest guest]

Hi All, & Hi Jim,

 

I wrote:

> If you want high accuracy, the mix is 737ml of 95% Everclear +

> 263ml distilled water > = 1 litre of 70.015% alcohol.

 

Jim Ramholz replied:

> Phil: What's the rationale for the different percent of ethanol

> for extraction?

 

Jim, I was only doing the maths to reach the 70%, as was asked

by a CHA member.

 

Karen Vaughan wrote:

> Resins usually need quite high alcohol percentages to extract

> whereas polysaccharides need around 25% or they will clump, and

> other compounds each have their preferred extraction range. So I

> would extract Moyao or Ruxiang at full strength and Lingzhi at 25%.

> Minerals don't extract well in alcohol so I might boil Muli in

> water in greater than normal concentrations and use it to dilute

> other formula ingredients (but manual shaking of the resultant

> tincture would be required as the minerals would settle).

 

Would experts agree that, for most purposes, immersion of

herbs/formulas in whiskey/brandy for at least 1 week, followed by

homogenisation (blending in a kitchen blender) usually is OK? This

way, nothing is lost because the homogenised residue is included

in the final dose.

 

I like to add honey to the blended mix. The mix of homogenised

Ginseng slices [the only herb that I have extracted in that way],

spirit and honey also tastes very well!

 

Would CHA experts like to discuss WHICH herbal RESIDUES

should NOT be included in the final dose?

 

I am no expert in chemistry, or in extration of herbs! I rely on the -

opinions from experts as to how THEY extract their herbs.

Opinions vary from 25% alcohol for polysaccharides (Karen) to 35-

45% alcohol in sorghum spirit and standard supermarket spirits, to

" full strength " (100% alcohol?) for Moyao & Ruxiang (Karen).

 

And Karen added that shells (Muli) [and stones (like Shigao)? or

fossilized ingredients (like Longgu & Hupo?)] should be boiled in

water rather than extracted in alcohol.

 

I hope to learn from you.

Many thanks,

Phil

 

 

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

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[Guest guest]

, " "

<@e...> wrote:

> Hi All, & Hi Jim,

>

> I wrote:

> > If you want high accuracy, the mix is 737ml of 95% Everclear +

> > 263ml distilled water > = 1 litre of 70.015% alcohol.

>

> Jim Ramholz replied:

> > Phil: What's the rationale for the different percent of ethanol

> > for extraction?

>

> Jim, I was only doing the maths to reach the 70%, as was asked

> by a CHA member. >>>

 

 

Phil:

 

Oh, thanks. It was getting to be quite a long thread and I though I

had missed an important point.

 

I've noticed when making tinctures that something changes in the

flavors and potency in certain stages: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months,

and 1 year. After aging several years, I feel that the tincture or

liniment is too good for patients. ;-) It would be interesting to do

some testing and see if any new things come out in older tinctures.

 

 

Jim Ramholz