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The success of herbal products
as healing agents depends on how active the ingredients are when ingested. Liquid extracts or tinctures offer many advantages;
one being the benefits it has as an herbal delivery system. Herbal tinctures are the most rapidly and efficiently absorbed
of any preparation and their effects are quickly felt. Capsules
disintegrate and are digested in the stomach, tinctures begin to be absorbed immediate ly upon entering the mouth. If the body is not digesting and assimilating well, the herbal benefits
in pills or capsules are diminished as the digestive system must free the healing herbal ingredient from the capsul or tablet's
fiber and cellulose. In instances of acute symptoms, liquid tinctures are most typically preferred over dried encapsulated
remedies. Although a tincture's taste can sometimes be 'overwhelming',
many prefer this form of herbal medicines. The taste of an herb actually comes through and can be distinguished one
from another. Most of us are so used to the most common tastes being sweet or salty that we may react negatively to
tastes being pungent, bitter or sour. A possible disadvantage may be that
some people are sensitive or allergic to alcohol or choose to avoid it. If this is the case, the alcohol may be dissipated
by putting the dose of tincture into an ounce of warm water for 20 - 30 minutes. Also, interestingly enough, the
amount of alcohol in any given dose of alcohol based, herbal tincture is the same as in one ripe banana.
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1.
Longevity & Stability An
herb, once tinctured will retain it's medicinal properties far longer than in most other preparations. Alcohol serves
as an excellent preservative maintaining the integrity of the herb. Tinctures will last for many years compared to the
shelf life of herbal capsules (1-12 months) or tablets (2-24 months). When properly stored in dark glass bottles, in a cool
dark place, avoiding heat, sunlight and exposure to air, tinctures will keep are at least 5 years!
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 2. Storage
Unlike
bulky raw materials, plastic bottles or jars containing 250, 500 or even 1000 capsules, or pints or liters of liquid, a 30
milliliter/once ounce, 60 milliliter/2 ounces or even a 120 milliliter/4 ounce bottle of tincture stores compactly.
These bottles fit easily into a car first aid kit and a 1 ounce bottle with a dropper or spray top is perfect in a purse,
pocket or briefcase when traveling.
3.
Control of Freshness, Potency
& Formulation Freshness
of the herb is of prime importance to the quality of the final tincture. The herbal tinctures we have available are
made with the freshest organically grown, wild-crafted herbs. The correct interaction of menstruum (mixture of pure
ethyl alcohol and distilled water) along with the dry or fresh herb, assures the herb's potency results. There is
no mystery or complicated process inbolved in making liquid extracts, just high quality herbs and a high quality menstrum.
Be
assured, there are no additional ingredients in our tinctures. Check labels of capsules and tablets and find fillers,
binders and other materials. Also, combinations of several herbs in one tincture often effectively deliver a greater
healing power over an individual herb.
 4. Ease of Administering
Tinctures are ready to administer with no further preparation. Drops may be dispensed directly to the back
of the tongue or sprayed to the back of the throat. If desired, the extract may be added to warm or cold water, tea
or juice.
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