Topic: Question about pharmaceutical-grade ethanol in herbal remedies?
gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
The pharmaceutical-grade ethanol in some herbal remedies is 190 proof alcohol, meaning it's 90% pure ethanol and 10% distilled water. I wonder, since ethanol is made from corn, is there reason to believe that these remedies could have GMO in it?
Is this something to be concerned about, after all, almost 90% of our corn crops have GMO in it? Anyone have any knowledge about this?
By the way, I know there are herbal remedies with organic alcohol and other options such as vinegar instead of alcohol, but what I want to know is specifically related to my question.
posted
Do you mean Genetically modified organisms?
And, if so - would anything like that even be able to survive in a solution of 90% pure ethanol?
I'm sure someone will chime in who knows more than i do.
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
Yes, that's what I mean. I agree, I would think that GMO would not survive the ethanol 90% ethanol solution, but that's something I'd like to verify from someone who understands this kind of stuff.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Vinegar would not likely preserve the plant material nor allow for a true tincture process.
That's why I get tincture that are made with organic alcohol. I also never take them directly into my mouth as it's too much of a shock to my system. Best for my in 1/2 cup of water, swirl bit and then follow with more water a little later.
You can find some tinctures with no alcohol, made with glycerin (which could be from corn, though). Organic glycerin is also non- GMO. However, glycerin will not preserve plant material as long as alcohol will, so be sure of the expiration date.
While different from a tincture, some non-alcoholic homoepathic remedies can be made with saline solution. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- ECLECTIC INSTITUTE uses organic alcohol in their tinctures: -------------------------
Eclectic chooses to utilize alcohol for their extracts that is made with certified organic sugar cane. The advantages of organic alcohol over conventional grain alcohol are; sugar cane alcohol is hypo-allergenic.
Studies have shown that corn alcohol passes the allergens of corn to the spirit that is derived from corn. By using sugar cane alcohol Eclectic is able to bypass any corn allergy problems which may be aggravating the health condition.
Corn is also one of the most sprayed crops in the US. Each year millions of pounds herbicide and pesticides are sprayed on corn crops.
We feel by using certified organic sugar cane for our alcohol we are offering the consumer a truly organic product as well as an environmentally sound product.
Is Organic Alcohol really an issue? In October of 1994 there was a report released titled "Tap Water Blues".
This report outlines the herbicide poisoning of several large communities along the Mississippi River. The indiscriminate use of herbicides on corn crops in the Midwest is indicated as to the cause of these poisons in drinking water.
[Note: they also have some glycerin options] -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
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