January Highlight: Tinctures
This month, we are highlighting our herbal tinctures and extracts. We carry an extensive amount of herbs in tincture/extract form. For those who may be unfamiliar with this method, tinctures are liquid extracts made from herbs. Since tinctures are taken orally, they are believed to enter the bloodstream directly and take effect more quickly.
Tinctures are often made with alcohol because it acts as the most powerful solvent. That means that it will most effectively extract the medicinal properties from the herbs. Alcohol will also act as the best preservative.
There are other options available for those who might be sensitive or allergic to alcohol. Some herbal remedies can be extracted with apple cider vinegar or vegetable glycerine. The plus to having a tincture made with apple cider vinegar is that it contains its own health benefits. Tinctures made with apple cider vinegar, however, will have the shortest shelf life.
Tinctures made with vegetable glycerine provide the best alternative to alcohol-based extracts if you’re looking for a longer shelf life. These are also a better option for children because they’ll have a milder taste than tinctures with apple cider vinegar.
We carry all three kinds of tinctures at Aptos Natural Foods, for whatever your preferences or needs may be. Read more below to see what lines we carry!
Based out of Colorado, Wishgarden Herbal Remedies is an independent, woman-owned, family-run, community-conscious business devoted to helping people achieve health and balance through the use of natural medicinal botanicals, oils, salves, and teas. Their tinctures are made with organic and wild herbs, then diluted with Rocky Mountain artesian spring water.
Herbpharm grows over 70 different herb crops for use their herbal extracts. Their products are all gluten-free and the alcohol in their extracts is derived from gluten-free, non-GMO corn or sugar cane, and is certified organic.
Gaia offers a vast array of formulas and single herb extracts that each deliver the herb as was intended by nature. They are committed to sustainable practices including regenerative farming, encouraging biodiversity, and recycling waste & reduction.
Oregon’s Wild Harvest certified organic, biodynamic, non-GMO, gluten free, vegan and, most importantly, prepared with love for optimum potency.
At Eclectic Institute, everything starts with fresh, whole herbs. They start by growing herbs on their 90 acre certified organic farm, and then use freeze-drying to remove only the water. The end product is the whole herb in its original form still raw, intact, viable, and retaining the benefits of the fresh herb.
