Uses of Ethanol Ethyl Alcohol, and High-Proof Alcohol

Posted by Andrew Winslow on November 29th, 2022

In herbal medicine, alcohol extracts are frequently employed. Alcohol is quite effective for extraction. When alcohol is utilized, all water-soluble plant compounds may be recovered. In addition, you extract other compounds from the plant matter that are less water-soluble.

The proof is double of the actual alcohol content if your alcohol is labelled as proof rather than as a percentage of alcohol. As a result, alcohol that is labelled as 100 proof is 50% alcohol and 50% water.40% alcohol and 60% water would equal 80 proof.

A "High proof alcohol" includes more than 60% alcohol by volume (or 120 proof). Herbalists have been utilising some type of alcohol for thousands of years to extract the potent and therapeutic qualities of plants to make tinctures. The page goes over the potent qualities of alcohol and the reasons it's still the go-to solvent for tinctures.

High proof alcohol is an excellent solvent for plants

Because alcohol can extract active components like essential oils, alkaloids, and resins that aren't water soluble, Ethanol Ethyl Alcohol is a great solvent for plants. It is also the only edible solvent that can successfully extract the necessary components.

High proof alcohol enables the creation of powerful tinctures

Tinctures made of alcohol are likewise extremely strong and concentrated, so just a tiny amount is necessary to experience the advantages. In fact, a single dose of a liquid extract has around the same amount of alcohol as common foods like an overripe banana and fermented fruit and vegetables.

Depending on the special qualities of the plants and how much water they contain, the amount of alcohol is utilised for extraction. The ethanol content of the tincture is indicated by the alcohol percentage. Tinctures typically include at least 25% ethanol.

Alcohol is easily absorbed by the body

Because alcohol can reach our system so quickly, alcohol-based tinctures have a very speedy effect. Numerous capillaries on our tongues and cheeks enable us to easily absorb alcohol. Thus, when we put a few drops of the extract beneath our tongue, we aren't truly digesting it. Instead, it quickly enters our circulation to give the powerful effects of the tincture.

As a preservative, alcohol

Herbal extracts' shelf lives are extended by alcohol, often for at least five years.

What type of alcohol is utilized to create tinctures?

The active ingredient in most tinctures is Ethanol Ethyl Alcohol, a highly potent alcohol that is readily available and extremely safe to use. The tincture is consumed in extremely tiny doses (often 20–40 drops), therefore there is hardly any alcohol absorbed. Herbal tinctures have long included alcohol as a solvent. It is still well-liked today because of its strength, quick action, and capacity to prolong the shelf life of tinctures. Herbal tincture is a highly safe and an efficient approach to administer our preferred herbal medicines because just a very tiny amount of alcohol is taken when we use one. Many herbal fluid solutions use Ethanol Ethyl Alcohol because it is a great solvent for extracting herbal medicines and helps keep these medications stable.

High proof ethanol is used in extractohol. Extractohol will assist you in achieving maximum extraction capacity for your tinctures, herbal oils, and culinary extracts due to its efficacy and purity.