Herbal Medicines

Question 1

Extract

Answer 1

• concentrated form of an herb

- mixed with solvent (alcohol and/or water)

Question 2

Infusion

Answer 2

• herbal tea steeped in hot water

Question 3

Tincture

Answer 3

• typically made using mixtures of alcohol, water, and/or glycerin as solvent
• herb soaked in solvent for specific amount of time depending on the herb

Question 4

Fluid extract

Answer 4

• made by evaporating off some of the alcohol after herb is extracted into a tincture
• or by circulating a small amount of solvent through an herb a large number of times
• more concentrated than tinctures

Question 5

Standardized extract

Answer 5

• an extract guaranteed to contain a “standardized” level of active compounds

Question 6

Full-spectrum extract

Answer 6

• an extract utilizing the whole plant material without chemical solvent standardization

Question 7

Strengths of extracts

Answer 7

• a tincture is typically a 1:10 or a 1:5 concentration/one part of the herb (in grams) is soaked in 10 or 5 parts liquid (in ml of volume) —> 1ml of water = 1 g
• a fluid extract is usually 1:1