Columbines & Wizardry Herbs, Inc.
About Herbal Tinctures
Hard copy edition of this catalog (with graphics) is available free from Columbines & Wizardry Herbs, Inc., P.O. Box 50532, Eugene, OR 97405, USA, 541-687-7114, howieb@botanicalstudies.net.
Tinctures are herbs concentrated in alcohol. We make Columbines and Wizardry tinctures by slowly extracting the finest herbs available over a four to six week period. We use 40% alcohol in our tinctures, which is a lower percentage than generally found in the market today. This provides a better tasting extract without sacrificing quality or potency.
Advantages
Tinctures offer many advantages over other forms of herbal ingestion. Tinctures insure you get a full spectrum of needed constituents. Osha tincture, for example, contains important ingredients that are not soluble in water. Therefore, simple Osha tea lacks those constituents that do not dissolve in water. Our extraction process does not heat the herbs, ensuring the preservation of heat sensitive essential oils.
Convenience
Tinctures are a convenient way to ingest herbs. In 1 oz dropper bottles, with glass droppers, you can carry them in your pocket or purse. Tinctures allow you the freedom to take herbs easily anywhere, any time, without kitchen preparation. Disagreeable tasting herbs can be swallowed more quickly and can be masked with juice. While herbs in capsules are also convenient, their essential components are neither as readily available as those in tinctures nor are they assimilated as easily. Capsules disintegrate and are digested in the stomach; tinctures begin to be absorbed immediately upon entering the mouth. The alcohol aids the absorption; however, you can evaporate it by putting the tincture in hot water, if desired.
Shelf Life
Alcohol also acts as a preservative. Stored in a cool, dark place, tinctures can easily last five years or more! Avoid heat, sunlight, and exposure to air, and your tinctures will keep their "just picked" freshness for as long as you own them.
Dosage
Proper dosage is paramount. When using a tincture for the first time, try a few drops to see whether you are allergic to it, then increase the dosage to your needs. Ma Huang and Valerian are the most likely to cause allergic reactions. It is not uncommon to need 60-90 drops for a desired effect.
Many herbalists believe herbs work best over time when taken regularly in small doses. Dosages for children are 1/3 to 1/2 of the adult dosage, depending on the weight of the child. One must be very careful about giving young children certain herbs. Check with a local herbalist or naturopathic physician if you have any doubts.
A Word of Caution
Use caution when combining herbs with pharmaceutical medicines or other drugs. Do not mix calming herbs such as Valerian, Skullcap, and Parrot's Beak with alcohol or sedatives. People taking complex drugs like hormones, thyroid drugs, heart medications, MAO inhibitors, SSRI's and even antibiotics should be careful about the unpredictable "side effects" of combining them with certain herbs. Plants high in tannins (Willows, Red Root, Uva-ursi) interfere with the absorption of many drugs, even canceling their effects. Other herbs can modify the excretion of drugs, either canceling or potentiating the drug's effects. Always tell your doctor what herbs and supplements you are taking, even if your doctor is not versed in botanical medicine.
The Usual Disclaimer
Our tinctures are nutritional supplements. They are not sold as drugs or remedies. The law prohibits us from making any medicinal claims, so we make none. We assume no responsibility for any misuse or abuse of our products.
Nevertheless, many people will attempt to use them as medicines. Understand what the herb will do before you take it, and check with a health care professional versed in herbal knowledge to find out the proper herb for you.
Custom Formulations and Bulk Orders
Our botanical laboratory prepares custom herbal formulations upon request. All of our products are available at a substantial savings in dispensary sizes of 16 oz, 32 oz, and larger. Columbines and Wizardry Herbs, Inc. herbal preparations are distributed internationally and used by naturopathic doctors, medical herbalists and massage therapists in their practices. Feel free to call or write regarding specific needs.
For More Information
There are many herb books on the market. Some are excellent, some are useless and some are deadly! We highly recommend the following sources of information:
- Grieve, Maud: A Modern Herbal. 2 volumes, Dover Publications, NY, 1971.
- Moore, Michael: Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West. Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, 1979. Any book by Michael Moore is worth reading.
- Tierra, Michael: The Way of Herbs. Washington Square Press, NY, 1983.
- Other Books on Herbalism from the Herbal Hall
- Robyn's Recommended Reading: A quarterly review of literature relating to herbalism and phytotherapy. 1627 W. Main, Ste. 116, Bozeman, MT 59715
- Any book by Amanda Mcquade Crawford, Rosemary Gladstar, James Green, David Hoffmann, Michael Tierra, or Susun Weed.
