Tincture, herbal capsules or dried herb, what to choose?

There are, of course, disadvantages and advantages with all three. We have made a short summary, so you can more easily decide in what form you want your herbs.

Infusion of dried herbs (Herbal extract in water)

Infusion is a water extract of herbs and plants. In principle, the same process occurs in hot water as with a tincture. That is, the valuable substances and essential oils of the herbs are released and end up in the hot water. The substances are absorbed in the stomach and further into the body. The advantage is that you get to experience the scent and taste of the herbs.

The disadvantage of dried herbs dissolved in hot water is that they need to steep for up to 30 minutes. The shelf life of dried herbs is somewhat shorter than that of tinctures, but it is still a matter of years if the herbs are stored dry and dark.

Herbal capsules:

It has been noted that the digestive system is not capable of dissolving all substances on its own. This is one of the major disadvantages for herbs in capsules. If the herb is finely ground into powder, it becomes easier for the digestive system to absorb the beneficial substances of the herbs. Therefore, it is important that the herbal capsule contains finely ground herbs. The advantage of herbal capsules is that they are easy to take and carry with you.

The tincture:

It is an extract of the herb dissolved in alcohol or Glycerol (E 422). By letting selected parts of the herb steep in alcohol, the herb's essential oils and active substances are extracted.

The advantage of alcohol over glycerol is that both fat-soluble and water-soluble substances are included. Glycerol only dissolves water-soluble substances. Thus, ethanol is the most effective for extracting all substances from the herbs.
When the herbs have steeped long enough, the plant residues are filtered off and the liquid is collected. This results in a tincture, and the substances we want are dissolved in Ethanol or Glycerol.

The substances then become more readily available to the body. Some of the absorption already takes place in the oral cavity and the rest in the stomach. The alcohol ensures that the tincture goes directly into the body.

Another advantage of tinctures is their long shelf life, and that a large dose is not needed, as nothing goes down into the stomach and is broken down. The tincture also does not have time to pass through the liver, but is absorbed by the body directly.

The disadvantage of tinctures is that they can have a strong taste, as alcohol binds flavourings.