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Aspis Apothek
Bio-hack your body today by using ancient herbal traditions to optimize your overall health, strength and mental wellness.
Herbal tinctures are the use of plants for facilitating healing and prevention of symptoms as well as build and strengthen the body's immune system, muscular system, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, lymphatic system, the body's muscle and fascia tissue, brain power, gut health and much more. It has a long history that dates back to prehistoric times, when people discovered the benefits of certain plants through trial and error. Some of the ancient civilizations that used herbal practices include:
Egypt: The Egyptians were among the first to document their knowledge of medicinal plants in the Ebers papyrus, which dates to 1500 BC. The papyrus contains descriptions of dozens of herbal remedies and their uses, such as castor oil for laxatives, garlic for infections, and aloe for burns. The Egyptians also used herbs in religious rituals, cosmetics, and embalming.
India: The Indians developed a holistic system of medicine called Ayurveda, which means “the science of life”. Ayurveda is based on the concept of balancing the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether) and the three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) in the body. Ayurveda uses hundreds of herbs to treat various ailments, such as visnaga for asthma, turmeric for inflammation, and neem for skin problems. Ayurveda also incorporates diet, yoga, meditation, and massage in its approach to health.
China: The Chinese have a rich tradition of herbal medicine that is part of their broader system of medicine called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is based on the concept of balancing the yin and yang and the flow of qi (vital energy) in the body. TCM uses thousands of herbs to treat various conditions, such as ginseng for vitality, ginger for digestion, and licorice for coughs. TCM also uses acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and tai chi in its practice.
Greece: The Greeks were influenced by the Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures in their use of herbal medicine. They also developed their own theories and methods, such as the four humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) and the four temperaments (sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, and melancholic) that determine the health and personality of a person. The most famous Greek physician was Hippocrates, who is considered the “father of Western medicine”. He emphasized observation and rational thinking in herbal practice, and used herbs such as mint, thyme, and sage to treat various symptoms.
Rome: The Romans inherited much of the Greek knowledge of herbal practices, and also added their own contributions. They were skilled in cultivating and preserving herbs and built large gardens and libraries for their study. They also used herbs in cooking, perfumery, and warfare. The most influential Roman physician was Galen, who expanded on the theory of the four humors and the four temperaments, and used herbs such as valerian, and henbane to treat various symptoms.
South America: The ancient Maya, Inca, and Aztec had herbal traditions that were intertwined with religious rites. Some of the practices from the Aztec, Mayan, and Spanish cultures evolved into modern Mexican herbal practices. North of the Rio Grande, plants were also employed for both healing and ritual by Native American peoples. Some of the herbs used in South America were used for sexual potency, for immune system, for wounds, and for various disorders.
Africa: Traditional African herbal disciplines involving indigenous herbalism and African spirituality, typically including diviners, midwives, and herbalists. Practitioners of traditional African medicine claim to be able to facilitate a variety of diverse conditions including psychiatric (mental health) disorders, high blood pressure, cholera, most venereal diseases, epilepsy, asthma, eczema, fever, anxiety, depression, benign prostatic hyperplasia, urinary tract infections, gout, and healing of wounds and burns. Traditional African practices also used herbs for strengthening the bodies overall being and wellness.
These are some of the examples of how ancient civilizations used herbal medicine for healing and prevention measures as well as building the body's immune system and overall body strength and optimum functionality. Herbal medicine is still widely used today in many parts of the world, and some of the herbs that were used thousands of years ago are still effective and popular today. Herbal medicine is also a source of inspiration for Bio hacking your body intel health and wellness by using natural resources that are derived from or based on plant compounds. 🌿
Herbal tinctures are a concentrated liquid extracts of herbs that are made by soaking the plant parts in alcohol, water, glycerin or vinegar. They are a popular way to take herbal supplements because they are easy to use and can be absorbed quickly by the body. Here are some potential health benefits of herbal tinctures, based on research:
Ease of use: Tinctures are easy to use and can be added to water, tea, or other beverages.
Quick absorption: Tinctures are absorbed quickly by the body, making them a fast-acting way to take herbal supplements.
Concentration: Tinctures are concentrated extracts of herbs, which means that they contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than other forms of herbal supplements.
Long shelf life: Tinctures have a long shelf life and can last for several years if stored properly.
Customization: Tinctures can be customized to meet individual needs by combining different herbs to create a specific blend.
Potential health benefits: Some plants used in tinctures have been shown to have potential health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, improving cognitive function, and boosting immune function.
THE PROCESS:
Herbal tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts made by soaking either fresh or dried, bark, berries, leaves, flowers, or roots from one or more plants in a liquid combination of alcohol and water. This liquid solvent is called the menstruum. The alcohol pulls out or extracts the active and therapeutic properties for the plants, the alkaloids, the vitamins, and minerals.
After the extraction process, the concentrated liquid is separated from the herbs and is filtered out. The used plant parts are composted. And the concentrated liquid that remains is now called a tincture.
In tincture making, there are several types of solvents that can extract the medicine from the plants. Each solvent has its advantages and disadvantages in medicine making. For example, you can extract herbs using other solvents such as water, glycerin, vinegar, oil, and honey.
WHY?
One of the advantages of alcohol tinctures is that the body can absorb alcohol quickly, and it does not need to enter your gut to be absorbed as pills and capsules do. Alcohol-based tinctures are incredibly fast-acting because alcohol can enter our bloodstream very quickly; that’s what makes alcohol tinctures such effective herbal medicine. However, you are taking such a small amount of alcohol in a tincture that you will not get drunk. The amount of alcohol in an herbal tincture is compared to the amount of alcohol found in vanilla extract. Even a ripe banana has more alcohol in it than an herbal tincture does.
STORAGE/CARE:
It is normal for herbal tinctures that have been stored for a long time to have herbal particles floating in the liquid. It is also common to see a ring of resin around the dropper. It may happen even before it passes its expiration date. What happens is the tincture was filtered out just before it was bottled. However, potent plant extracts will have resins in them, which is why they work so well. Over time, the resins collect on the dropper. If you see this on your dropper, don’t be concerned. Simply wipe the dropper off and shake your tincture well before taking it. Store in room temperature cabinet or refrigerator.
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