Q: Is a standardized extract better?
A: There is not necessarily any difference between whole herb and standardized extracts. Any extract, including a whole herb or broad spectrum extract, can have constituents quantified and thus be standardized. Some standardized extracts, however, use processes and/or solvents to isolate phytochemicals.
Q: What is an example of a standardized extract?
A: Extracts that have been standardized by the FDA include the northern pasture grasses (Timothy, June, Meadow Fescue, Orchard, Redtop, Perennial Rye, Sweet Vernal) and Bermuda, a southern grass. In addition to these grasses, the FDA has also standardized Dust Mite, Cat, Short Ragweed and Hymenoptera Venom.
Q: What does standardized mean in supplements?
A: "Standardized" means that manufacturers ensure every batch of their products is produced in a consistent way, with the same ingredients and same concentration of ingredients.
Q: What are the advantages of standardized extract?
A: One of the main benefits of standardized herbal extracts is their potency. Standardization concentrates the active ingredients, making them much more potent than the raw herb. This can result in improved efficacy and faster results compared to products made from raw herbs.
Q: Which is better tincture or extract?
A: The result is a liquid extract that is up to 5 to 10 times more concentrated than a tincture, which means you get the benefit of a much higher potency herbal product. There are many reasons why people may not want to use herbs with a high alcohol content, such as disliking the taste or alcohol sensitivity.
Q: What is a non-standardized extract?
A: A “bulk” extract or Non-Standardized extract is simply a specific amount of an herb, extracted and then infused back onto that same herb in a smaller amount, depending on the “x” concentration desired.
Q: What is the difference between extract and standardized?
A: A standardized herbal extract is an herb extract that has one or more components present in a specific, guaranteed amount, usually expressed as a percentage. The intention behind the standardization of herbs is to guarantee that the consumer is getting a product in which the chemistry is consistent from batch to batch.
Q: Is a tincture and an extract the same?
A: Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts with an alcohol base. The difference between a tincture and an extract is that tinctures are always made with alcohol as the solvent. If you are using water, vinegar, glycerine, or any menstruum (solvent) other than alcohol, your preparation is an extract, not a tincture.
Q: What does standardized mean for herbs?
A: Standardization guarantees the content of one or more active constituents and marker compounds. The plant environment and genetic factors could significantly affect the biochemical components of the plant extract, in which plants are still the most abundant and cost-effective resource for drug innovation.
Q: Are herbal extracts healthy?
A: Some herbal extracts may help boost immunity without having side effects and are more effective in providing symptomatic relief, especially while fighting allergies. One of the significant benefits of herbal extract is its affordability.
Q: Do herbal extracts work?
A: Liquid herbal extracts are well-absorbed and begin working very quickly. But the key word here is begin. Noticeable effects or results can vary greatly. Some herbs that affect the nervous system can produce noticeable effects in a short period of time.
Q: What is the difference between a concentrated herb and standardized extract?
A: In simple terms, a concentrated herb contains the entire herb or an extract of the herb with all original chemicals intact. A standarized extract is a refinement of the concentrated herbal extract.
Q: Do herbal extracts need to be refrigerated?
A: Alcohol-based tinctures have an unlimited shelf life and do not require refrigeration if stored in a cool, dark location. Tinctures that are vegetable glycerine-based do not need to be refrigerated and can last from 3-5 years. Vinegar-based tinctures are recommended to be refrigerated, and can last up to a year.
Q: Are extracts better than oils?
A: While their benefits may not be as concentrated as essential oils, extracts can be used in higher quantities and tend to be gentler on the skin, while still providing the benefits of the plants from which they are derived.
Q: What is standardization of herbal extract?
A: The standardized herbal extraction process ensures maximum possible extraction of the active constituent & removal of the inactive substances, such as water and cellulose. This helps to ensure the conformity of quality and therapeutic efficacy of each product without seasonal or batch-to-batch variations.
Q: How much alcohol is in herbal extracts?
A: The amount of alcohol in a liquid herbal extract can vary from 20% to 90% depending on the herb. No matter where an herb falls in that range, it's actually a very small amount you ingest per serving. For example, our liquid Echinacea extract is about 50% alcohol by volume.
Q: How long does herbal extract last?
A: We recommend using alcohol-based herbal tinctures within two years. However, some alcohol tinctures and liniments have a shelf life of 3-5 years, particularly those made with a high percentage of alcohol.
Q: What are the three types of extracts?
A: The three most common types of extractions are: liquid/liquid, liquid/solid, and acid/base (also known as a chemically active extraction). The coffee and tea examples are both of the liquid/solid type in which a compound (caffeine) is isolated from a solid mixture by using a liquid extraction solvent (water).
Q: Is peppermint flavor the same as extract?
A: Peppermint oil and peppermint extract are two very different ingredients. Peppermint oil is the pure essential oil derived from peppermint leaves. Peppermint extract is a mixture of peppermint essential oils and alcohol. Peppermint oil is quite strong, so you need to dilute it for most uses.
Q: What extracts are used the most?
A: One of the most common Extracts used in the US is Vanilla Extract. While there are over a hundred different types of Vanilla, the two most prevalent types of vanilla extract in the US are from Madagascar (Bourbon—the region, not the drink) and Tahiti.
Q: Are extracts better with or without alcohol?
A: For the herbs where glycerin is an effective extractive medium, the advantage is an alcohol-free extract. Alcohol-free glycerites are particularly suited to kids and to adults with alcohol sensitivity, including recovering alcoholics.