What are herbal extracts and how do you use them?

[Guest guest]

Hi, at the Ohio Soapers Gathering there were a lot of extracts for

sale but I wanted to find out more about them before I bought them.

What are they and how do you use them?

 

I bought some rose hydrosol and made a skin toner using one part apple

cider vinegar, 2 parts rose hydrosol and one part water. I am storing

it in the refrigerator since it doesn't have a preservative. I love

the smell, you can barely smell the vinegar.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Jo Ann Nourse

[Guest guest]

Most people are more familiar with herbal extracts that one would use

internally - somewhat like herb capsules.

 

At a soaper's convention, I would expect that the extracts would be similar,

except that they would be made from herbs specifically chosen for things like

shampoos, lotions, and soaps. For external uses.

 

Extracts involve soaking herbs in an alcohol infusion for a period of time.

The medicinal components of the herbs leave the plant and go into the alcohol.

It is a lot like making tea, except that the alcohol preserves the

properties, whereas water would not. Extracts can also be made in vinegar and

glycerine.

 

Tina

_www.essentialherbal.com_ (http://www.essentialherbal.com/)

_Essential Herbal Blog_ (http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/)

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

At a soaper's convention, I would expect that the extracts would be similar,

 

except that they would be made from herbs specifically chosen for things

like

shampoos, lotions, and soaps. For external uses.

 

[Dave:] Right, except soapers wouldn’t use standard extracts since alcohol

and soap don’t mix. As you said, extracts can be made in water or vinegar

but don’t keep – which is why so many natural soapers are also part-time

herbalists and prepare their own herbs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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