When Do You Need to Do a Multifrac (Multiple Fractionation Extraction) in Herbal Medicine?

A multifractionation extraction (multifrac) is used when you need to extract multiple types of compounds from a plant that dissolve in different solvents or require different extraction techniques. This method is necessary when one solvent alone cannot extract all beneficial compounds effectively.

---

When to Use a Multifrac Extraction

✅ When an herb contains both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds.
✅ When an herb has fat-soluble compounds that require oil or a non-polar solvent.
✅ When you need to separate different medicinal components from the same herb.
✅ When working with complex plants that contain multiple active constituents.

---

Examples of When a Multifrac is Needed

Herb	Why Use a Multifrac?	Extraction Steps
Turmeric	Contains water-soluble polysaccharides and fat-soluble curcuminoids	1. Water extract for polysaccharides → 2. Alcohol or oil extract for curcumin
Echinacea	Contains alkaloids, polysaccharides, and essential oils	1. Water extract for polysaccharides → 2. Alcohol extract for alkaloids and oils
Mushrooms (Reishi, Chaga, Lion’s Mane)	Polysaccharides are water-soluble, but triterpenes and sterols need alcohol	1. Hot water decoction for beta-glucans → 2. Alcohol extraction for triterpenes
Calendula	Contains water-soluble flavonoids and fat-soluble resins	1. Alcohol extract for resins → 2. Water or glycerin extract for flavonoids
Vanilla Beans	Flavor compounds dissolve best in alcohol, while polyphenols extract in water	1. Alcohol extract for vanillin → 2. Water extract for polyphenols

---

How to Perform a Multifrac Extraction

1️⃣ Step 1: Extract Water-Soluble Compounds (Infusion or Decoction)

• Use hot water to extract polysaccharides, flavonoids, and tannins.
• Simmer roots, barks, and mushrooms for 20–60 minutes (decoction).
• Steep leaves and flowers in hot water for 15–30 minutes (infusion).
• Strain and save the liquid.

2️⃣ Step 2: Extract Alcohol-Soluble Compounds (Tincture)

• Use 40–95% alcohol for alkaloids, resins, and volatile oils.
• Cover strained plant material with alcohol and let it macerate for 4–6 weeks.
• Strain and save the liquid.

3️⃣ Step 3: (Optional) Extract Fat-Soluble Compounds (Oil Infusion)

• If the herb contains lipophilic (fat-soluble) compounds, infuse it in oil for 4–6 weeks (cold) or 3–6 hours on low heat (hot method).
• Strain and save the oil.

4️⃣ Step 4: Combine Extracts or Use Separately

• Some people mix the water and alcohol extracts together (e.g., dual-extraction tinctures).
• Oil extracts are usually kept separate for topical applications.

---

Final Notes

• Multifrac is ideal for complex herbs like mushrooms, turmeric, and echinacea.
• It ensures no beneficial compounds are left behind.
• Different solvents target different healing properties.
• It takes longer but produces more effective extracts.