DRY and FRESH PLANT LIQUID EXTRACTS
Making liquid extracts with dried plants is easier, less expensive and less time-consuming. The less water in a plant, the more herb that is available to be extracted into the liquid. This means the dry plant extracts often have more herb per ounce than a fresh plant extract does. However, there are often qualities in the fresh plants that are lacking in dry plants, so it is often necessary to make a fresh plant extract. Sometimes it is best to use both flesh and dry plant to make an extract. Note: check the "Herb Chart for Harvesting and Preparation of Liquid Extracts" in this book to know how to proceed with specific herbs.
The two parts of a liquid extract are the herb, or "marc," and the liquid, or "menstruum." The valuable qualities of the plant are extracted from the marc into the menstruum. The final product will be the liquid extract. The menstruum used in a liquid extract can be straight alcohol, or a water and alcohol mix. The percentage of alcohol used in the menstruum will vary depending on the constituents in the plant. There are some general rules that can help determine the amount of alcohol to use. If the plant has mucilaginous characteristics, use low alcohol, about 25%. If the plant is high in essential oils or resins, use high alcohol, 65-95%. For resins in plants or substances like myrrh or propolis, use straight, 95% 'alcohol. Since most plants have multiple constituents, the decision concerning the amount of alcohol will be difficult. For example, echinacea has immune-enhancing polysaccharides that are best dissolved in water and precipitate in alcohol. It also has immune-enhancing alkylamides that are best dissolved in alcohol. What should be used for echinacea? Most herbalists use 45 - 50% alcohol for an herb like echinacea, and this appears clinically to be very effective.