What is a Tincture?
Generally speaking, a tincture is a concentrated liquid herbal extract. It is typically made by soaking herbs and other plant parts in alcohol for weeks to extract the active constituents. Alcohol is considered an excellent solvent because it is food grade and can extract herbal constituents (such as resins and alkaloids) that are poorly soluble in water. After a period of weeks, the herbal mixture is strained and the herb parts are removed, leaving behind concentrated liquid. Tinctures can be made from a single plant or a combination of plants. Fresh or dried leaves, roots, bark, flowers, and berries may be used to make tinctures.
How are Mushroom Tinctures Different?
When using mushrooms to make tincture there is another step involved to make the best tincture possible. In Traditional Chinese Medicine there are many mushrooms such as Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, and Lion's Mane that are recognized for their bioactivity. In Asian cultures, these mushrooms are prepared as long simmered teas or soups. This step is vital in drawing out the many beneficial compounds that exist in mushrooms that are water soluble, like long chain polysaccharides which are notable for their bioactivity in immunomodulation. Additionally, mushrooms have an indigestible cell wall composed of chitinous material that is broken down in these simmers. This process is known as a decoction, and results in a viscous, highly saturated liquid full of medicinal compounds. When the water based decoction is added to the alcohol tincture, it is called a "double extraction", which more completely contains the full range of medicinal compounds that exist in mushrooms.
Our Mushroom Tinctures
Although there are general guidelines for making double extraction mushroom tinctures, the process can vary depending on the individual maker. As growers of woodland mushrooms, we aim to grow as many of our mushrooms outdoors on natural logs, to simulate their natural environment. Under such conditions, mushrooms have to undergo some degree of struggle as they compete for substrate, experience weather changes, etc. This struggle results in mushrooms with a much fuller array of bioactive compounds when compared to indoor grown mushrooms. Some of our native species that we do not grow, we sustainably source from the wild, like our native Reishi (Ganoderma tsugae), in order to ensure the same level of medicinal quality. Strong mushrooms are a vital start to potent tincture making!
We use 100% fruiting bodies in our tinctures, as well as organic alcohol. There will be some solid material, especially the polysaccharides, that will start to come out into solution during the process. This is not only a natural occurrence, but is a sign of quality in tinctures. The polysaccharides also to tend to flocculate (coalesce). Vigorous shaking will encourage these aggregate solids to disperse. These solids can be removed by fine filtration, but our philosophy has been to leave them in the tincture since they are representing many bioactive constituents. In comparison, herbal tinctures are generally clearer as their bioactive compounds go into solution more easily.
How to Take Mushroom Tincture
We recommend taking a dropperful (about 20 drops or 1/4 teaspoon) a day for maintenance. The medicinal compounds in mushrooms are known as adaptogens, meaning that they work by regulating your body. This means that they work best when taken everyday. You can safely take more than a dropperful if you are having symptoms that the mushroom can help with when necessary. The alcohol content has greatly stabilized the solution, allowing for an extended shelf life that does not need to be refrigerated. The dark bottle keeps UV from further breaking down the compounds, which also allows for a long shelf life. You can take the tincture directly, or add to any hot or cold beverage.
Generally speaking, a tincture is a concentrated liquid herbal extract. It is typically made by soaking herbs and other plant parts in alcohol for weeks to extract the active constituents. Alcohol is considered an excellent solvent because it is food grade and can extract herbal constituents (such as resins and alkaloids) that are poorly soluble in water. After a period of weeks, the herbal mixture is strained and the herb parts are removed, leaving behind concentrated liquid. Tinctures can be made from a single plant or a combination of plants. Fresh or dried leaves, roots, bark, flowers, and berries may be used to make tinctures.
How are Mushroom Tinctures Different?
When using mushrooms to make tincture there is another step involved to make the best tincture possible. In Traditional Chinese Medicine there are many mushrooms such as Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, and Lion's Mane that are recognized for their bioactivity. In Asian cultures, these mushrooms are prepared as long simmered teas or soups. This step is vital in drawing out the many beneficial compounds that exist in mushrooms that are water soluble, like long chain polysaccharides which are notable for their bioactivity in immunomodulation. Additionally, mushrooms have an indigestible cell wall composed of chitinous material that is broken down in these simmers. This process is known as a decoction, and results in a viscous, highly saturated liquid full of medicinal compounds. When the water based decoction is added to the alcohol tincture, it is called a "double extraction", which more completely contains the full range of medicinal compounds that exist in mushrooms.
Our Mushroom Tinctures
Although there are general guidelines for making double extraction mushroom tinctures, the process can vary depending on the individual maker. As growers of woodland mushrooms, we aim to grow as many of our mushrooms outdoors on natural logs, to simulate their natural environment. Under such conditions, mushrooms have to undergo some degree of struggle as they compete for substrate, experience weather changes, etc. This struggle results in mushrooms with a much fuller array of bioactive compounds when compared to indoor grown mushrooms. Some of our native species that we do not grow, we sustainably source from the wild, like our native Reishi (Ganoderma tsugae), in order to ensure the same level of medicinal quality. Strong mushrooms are a vital start to potent tincture making!
We use 100% fruiting bodies in our tinctures, as well as organic alcohol. There will be some solid material, especially the polysaccharides, that will start to come out into solution during the process. This is not only a natural occurrence, but is a sign of quality in tinctures. The polysaccharides also to tend to flocculate (coalesce). Vigorous shaking will encourage these aggregate solids to disperse. These solids can be removed by fine filtration, but our philosophy has been to leave them in the tincture since they are representing many bioactive constituents. In comparison, herbal tinctures are generally clearer as their bioactive compounds go into solution more easily.
How to Take Mushroom Tincture
We recommend taking a dropperful (about 20 drops or 1/4 teaspoon) a day for maintenance. The medicinal compounds in mushrooms are known as adaptogens, meaning that they work by regulating your body. This means that they work best when taken everyday. You can safely take more than a dropperful if you are having symptoms that the mushroom can help with when necessary. The alcohol content has greatly stabilized the solution, allowing for an extended shelf life that does not need to be refrigerated. The dark bottle keeps UV from further breaking down the compounds, which also allows for a long shelf life. You can take the tincture directly, or add to any hot or cold beverage.