Category: How Tos

Overview

Maceration is one of the simplest and most widely used methods for extracting medicinal compounds from herbs. It involves soaking plant material in a solvent (usually alcohol, water, or oil) over time to dissolve and extract its active constituents.

This method is commonly used to make tinctures, infused oils, and herbal extracts for medicinal use.

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Materials Needed

• Dried or fresh plant material (e.g., leaves, roots, bark, flowers)
• Solvent (e.g., ethanol, water, oil, vinegar, or glycerin)
• Glass jar with a tight-fitting lid (amber or clear glass)
• Measuring scale or cup
• Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
• Dark glass bottles for storage (with dropper or screw caps)
• Label and marker

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Step-by-Step Process

1. Prepare the Plant Material

• Fresh Herbs: Chop or bruise the herb to release its juices.
• Dried Herbs: Crush or grind into small pieces to increase surface area.
• Weigh the plant material according to the desired ratio (e.g., 1:5 for dried herbs or 1:2 for fresh herbs).

2. Choose a Solvent

The solvent determines what compounds will be extracted. Here are common options:

• Ethanol (Alcohol) – Best for tinctures
  • Extracts alkaloids, flavonoids, and volatile oils.
  • Use 80–95% ethanol for dried roots, resins, or barks.
  • Use 40–60% ethanol for leaves and flowers.
• Water – Best for teas and infusions
  • Extracts tannins, mucilage, and polysaccharides.
• Oil (Olive, Coconut, Almond) – Best for infused oils
  • Extracts lipophilic (fat-soluble) compounds like essential oils and waxes.
• Glycerin – Good alcohol alternative for tinctures
  • Works well for children or alcohol-sensitive individuals.
• Vinegar – Used in medicinal oxymels
  • Extracts minerals and acids.

3. Combine the Ingredients

• Place the plant material in a clean, dry glass jar.
• Pour the solvent over the herb, ensuring it is fully submerged.
• Seal the jar tightly and shake it well to distribute the solvent.

4. Maceration Process

• Store in a dark, cool place for 2–6 weeks (depending on the herb and solvent).
• Shake the jar daily to help with extraction.
• Monitor for spoilage (especially with water-based macerations).

5. Strain and Filter

• After the maceration period, strain the liquid through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer.
• Press the plant material to extract every last bit of liquid.
• Optional: Filter again through a coffee filter for a clearer extract.

6. Storage

• Transfer the liquid into dark glass bottles.
• Label with date, herb name, solvent type, and ratio.
• Store in a cool, dark place (tinctures last years, oils last months).

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Maceration Time Guide

Herb Type	Solvent	Maceration Time
Soft Leaves & Flowers	Alcohol/Water	2-4 weeks
Hard Roots & Barks	Alcohol/Water	4-6 weeks
Oil Infusions	Carrier Oil	4-8 weeks
Vinegar/Glycerin	Vinegar/Glycerin	4-6 weeks

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Final Notes

• Alcohol tinctures have the longest shelf life (several years).
• Oil infusions should be stored in the fridge to prevent rancidity.
• Shake tinctures before use to distribute compounds evenly.
• Dilute high-proof tinctures with water before ingestion.

Overview

Multifractionation is a process used to extract different active constituents from herbs by using solvents of varying polarities. This method allows herbalists and researchers to separate essential oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and other beneficial compounds for use in tinctures, salves, or medicinal preparations.

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Materials Needed

• Dried plant material (e.g., roots, leaves, bark, flowers)
• Solvents (e.g., water, ethanol, methanol, hexane, acetone, or ethyl acetate)
• Glass containers or extraction vessels
• Filtration setup (cheesecloth, coffee filters, or vacuum filtration)
• Evaporation setup (water bath, rotary evaporator, or air drying)
• pH strips (optional for acid/base fractionation)
• Pipettes and measuring equipment

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Step-by-Step Process

1. Preparation of the Plant Material

• Dry the herb completely if it isn’t already.
• Grind the dried material into a coarse or fine powder for better extraction.
• Weigh and record the amount of plant material used.

2. Sequential Solvent Extraction

This step involves extracting different compounds by using solvents in increasing polarity.

Step 2.1: Non-Polar Extraction (Essential Oils, Lipids)

• Place the ground plant material in a glass jar.
• Cover it with a non-polar solvent like hexane or petroleum ether.
• Let it sit for 24-48 hours, shaking occasionally.
• Filter out the solvent and evaporate to collect non-polar compounds (essential oils, lipophilic substances).

Step 2.2: Medium-Polarity Extraction (Alkaloids, Terpenes, Glycosides)

• Use the remaining plant material.
• Soak it in ethyl acetate or acetone for 24-48 hours.
• Filter and evaporate to collect alkaloids, terpenes, and some flavonoids.

Step 2.3: Polar Extraction (Flavonoids, Tannins, Polysaccharides)

• Take the residue from the previous extraction.
• Soak it in ethanol-water (70:30) or pure ethanol.
• Let it sit for 24-48 hours.
• Filter and collect this fraction, which contains flavonoids and tannins.

Step 2.4: Water-Based Extraction (Polysaccharides, Saponins)

• Finally, soak the residue in hot water (decoction) or cold water (infusion) for several hours.
• Filter and collect water-soluble components.

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3. Fractionation of Extracts (Optional)

After extraction, additional steps like acid-base fractionation or chromatography can be used to further separate compounds.

• Acidification & Alkalization: Adjusting the pH can help isolate alkaloids or flavonoids selectively.
• Column Chromatography: Used for purifying active compounds.

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4. Concentration and Storage

• Evaporate the solvents using a rotary evaporator or gentle heating.
• Store the extracts in amber glass bottles away from light and heat.
• Label each fraction with its solvent, date, and contents.

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5. Application in Herbal Medicine

Once the fractions are ready, they can be used in:

• Tinctures
• Salves and creams
• Capsules and powders
• Topical extracts
• Research for isolating active compounds

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Final Notes

• Safety First: Some solvents are toxic—ensure they are fully evaporated before using the extract.
• Documentation: Keep detailed notes on weights, solvents, extraction times, and yields.
• Customization: Different herbs require different solvent combinations depending on their active constituents.

This multifrac method ensures a comprehensive extraction of an herb’s full medicinal profile, allowing for targeted or broad-spectrum applications in herbal medicine.