Hydroalcoholic Fluid Extracts: Questions & Answers

The ratio of plant to liquid. A 1:1 fluid extract uses one kilo of plant per litre of extract and is therefore far more concentrated than a mother tincture. For a mother tincture the ratio 1:10 is not a rough guide but the definition: one part of the drug, calculated on its dry-weight equivalent, to ten parts of solvent, macerated for about three weeks. If it is more concentrated than that — often 1:3 — it is not a mother tincture but simply a tincture. (German calls it Urtinktur, French teinture mère — the same thing.) Almost all Viworo extracts are 1:1 fluid extracts; only individual products are true mother tinctures — it says so on the product page.

Usually 5–10 drops in a little water, twice a day. The label on the individual bottle always takes precedence — not every plant is dosed the same way. Shake before use.

At 5 drops twice a day, a 30 ml bottle lasts about two months, a 100 ml bottle about six to seven months. People who already know their plant tend to move to the large bottle: almost 20 % less per millilitre.

Herbal and bitter, stronger or milder depending on the plant — artichoke is the most pronounced, horsetail the gentlest. These are not drinks: dilute in a little water and drink in one go. If you find that hard, add a splash of fruit juice.

The alcohol does two jobs: it dissolves the constituents that water alone cannot reach, and it preserves the extract without added preservatives. Most of our extracts are at 30 % vol.; a few plants prepared by the T.M. method reach 55–70 % — the content is stated on each product. For an extract at 30 %: a full daily dose of 20 drops contains around 0.2 g of alcohol. The Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety measured up to 1.4 g of alcohol per kilo in ripe bananas, so a medium-sized banana sits in the same order of magnitude. In a very overripe banana the highest value recorded there was 7.4 g per kilo. If you are sensitive, put the drops in hot water and let them stand for a few minutes — much of the alcohol evaporates.

Sealed and kept in the dark they last years; once opened, the date on the label applies. Stand the bottle upright at room temperature, away from radiators and direct sun. It does not need refrigeration.

That is normal. A pure plant extract is not filtered crystal clear: over time some particles settle and the liquid may turn slightly cloudy. It is not a fault — just shake before use.

Because light is the biggest enemy of a plant extract. Amber glass keeps out most visible light and UV radiation, so colour and contents stay stable for longer. For the same reason the dropper sits inside the cap: open, dose, close again.

Yes, many people do — artichoke after a rich meal and horsetail as a daily habit, for example. Stick to the dose given on each bottle. If you take medication or are unsure, talk to your doctor first.

No — and we would rather say so plainly. Organic applies to our essential oils and carrier oils. We do not present the plant extracts as organic: they come from a controlled supply chain and a specialised laboratory in Italy, but we do not put that label on them.

The 30 ml if you want to try a plant or give it as a gift. The 100 ml if you already know you will use it: almost 20 % less per millilitre, and it lasts over half a year.

Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding without medical advice. The same applies if you take medication or have problems with your liver, kidneys, heart or gallstones. Keep out of reach of young children. The extracts contain alcohol.