Herbal Essences

Essences are cold pressure extracts of the juices of fresh herb plants, such as Tulasi. We make them by soaking the herbs in ghee for several days, then running them through a special press that extracts the juice from the plant matter. This isolates, purifies and preserves the healing power of the herbs, which is diluted by heat, water and alcohol extraction methods. The shelf life may be reduced somewhat compared to other methods; but that is a small inconvenienvce compared to the benefits of cold pressure extraction.

Tincturing is the process of making an herbal extract by steeping ground herb in a liquid menstruum, thereby infusing the liquid with the active constituents of the herb. These active constituents are sometimes known as "extractives," but we prefer to call them essences. The tincture itself is the finished product, a relatively stable solution of extractives that is preserved against deterioration.

Pressing is the process wherein the macerating extract is thoroughly squeezed or "expressed," thereby separating the herb from the liquid, which is now infused with the activity of the herb. This can be accomplished by hand, or with a tincture press. A tincture press is composed of two parallel platens on a frame that is rigged with a hydraulic jack and a pan fitted with a drain hole and a hose. The macerating extract is poured into a pressing cloth inside the pan and the cloth is folded over the top of the mass of herb to prevent it from squeezing out the sides. Then the platens are jacked together, thereby efficiently forcing the liquid from the herb. Not only does this press out the menstruum, but it also forces the intrinsic plant water out of fresh plant material. The tincture flows from the pan down a hose and is captured in a receiving vessel. Using a tincture press greatly increases the yield from a given batch of extract, the most valuable natural essence of the herbs.