Why does Pharmacy Garden have alcohol in its tinctures?
Many tinctures are dissolved in glycerol (E422) for several reasons. An advantage of glycerol is its mild taste, which makes the product more pleasant to consume. However, glycerol has a limitation, as it can only dissolve water-soluble substances.
Both fat-soluble and water-soluble substances from the herb can be dissolved in alcohol (ethanol). Therefore, ethanol is considered the most effective means of extracting all the essential oils and maximizing the herb's power.
Another advantage of ethanol is that the substances become easier for the body to absorb. With an ethanol tincture, the absorption takes place partly in the oral cavity and the rest in the stomach, where all the essential oils are already dissolved and ready to be absorbed.
The alcohol promotes a direct transport of the tincture into the body, and the ethanol does not have time to pass through the liver to the same extent. This contributes to ethanol tinctures having a long shelf life.
Additionally, ethanol tinctures have advantages over herbal pills. Herbal pills contain finely divided herbs in a capsule, which pass through the stomach before being dissolved. Unfortunately, not all active substances in the herb are precipitated in the stomach before reaching the intestine. Therefore, not all substances are effectively absorbed by the body.
It is therefore common to dissolve dried herbs in hot water before consumption or in ethanol. In this way, the body comes into contact with the essential oils that are already dissolved and can absorb them more effectively.
Both fat-soluble and water-soluble substances from the herb can be dissolved in alcohol (ethanol). Therefore, ethanol is considered the most effective means of extracting all the essential oils and maximizing the herb's power.
Another advantage of ethanol is that the substances become easier for the body to absorb. With an ethanol tincture, the absorption takes place partly in the oral cavity and the rest in the stomach, where all the essential oils are already dissolved and ready to be absorbed.
The alcohol promotes a direct transport of the tincture into the body, and the ethanol does not have time to pass through the liver to the same extent. This contributes to ethanol tinctures having a long shelf life.
Additionally, ethanol tinctures have advantages over herbal pills. Herbal pills contain finely divided herbs in a capsule, which pass through the stomach before being dissolved. Unfortunately, not all active substances in the herb are precipitated in the stomach before reaching the intestine. Therefore, not all substances are effectively absorbed by the body.
It is therefore common to dissolve dried herbs in hot water before consumption or in ethanol. In this way, the body comes into contact with the essential oils that are already dissolved and can absorb them more effectively.
