Guest guest Posted October 16, 2003 Report Share Posted October 16, 2003 >>...Kan's herb extractions are 50/50 water and alcohol, and I think they are a superior product as well. Only one or two companies still make alcohol-only extractions, to my knowledge.>> As I understand it, alcohol-water extracts of Chinese herbs extract different chemicals from water extractions. I don't know whether this affects China Herb products, which seem to be extracted with water, with alcohol only used to preserve the waer extract. However, alcohol extracts theoretically could have different properties from water extracts. In the UK, we have been informed that Bai Xian Pi may be toxic when alcohol extracted, but not when water extracted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 16, 2003 Report Share Posted October 16, 2003 , " Dean Militello " <windwater5> wrote: > Cara, I would be interested in your response to greg's question. and i'd like to know your criteria for asserting that the liquid extracts are higher quality than powders. I appreciate your sensitivity to commercializing the list, but I think that this is an appropriate topic and that many could benefit from your experience. thanks, Dean >>>>>>>>Dean Dean the question of quality is kind of complicated. While when producing a powder concentrate you need to spray the liquid onto a currier, which dilutes the amount of extract per unit of weight, the bigger question is how the original extract is made. There is the question of volatile oils and the amount of ingredients you squeeze out of the herbs. For example, some of the newer methods which repeatedly wash the formulas in controlled temperatures in a closed system which preserves the volatile oils may yield a higher final product even after it is sprayed on a currier. Also all the formulas that where originally powders (san) have different characteristics. Third, some herbs are more potent when not cooked. alon > - > Cara Frank > > Wednesday, October 15, 2003 12:35 PM > Re: crude herbs vs. extracts > > > Please contact me off list on this > -- > Cara O. Frank, R.Ac > herbbabe@e... > China Herb Company > > > > > > > Thanks for your response. I am curious as to what your liquid concentrates > > are. Are they formulas that you decoct there and package or is there a form > > of this manufactured that you aquire and then dispense? > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 > Yes, certain constituents are only alcohol soluble. In Chinese herbology we > are, for the most part, thinking about water decoctions. There is a tradition > of horology wines and herbs are prepared in other ways ( salt, vinegar, > charring, etc) to alter their actions. So it stands to reason that an alcohol > extraction will be warmer and more moving/ dispersing. Other changes would > depend on the plant¹s specific constituents. > > I¹d like to hear more on bai Xian pi. Does anyone have more info? > Cara > > > As I understand it, alcohol-water extracts of Chinese herbs extract > different chemicals from water extractions. I don't know whether this > affects China Herb products, which seem to be extracted with water, > with alcohol only used to preserve the waer extract. However, alcohol > extracts theoretically could have different properties from water > extracts. In the UK, we have been informed that Bai Xian Pi may be > toxic when alcohol extracted, but not when water extracted. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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