Why does Weleda use alcohol in the remedies?
A. Traditionally, homoeopathic and herbal tinctures were made using a water and alcohol (ethanol) mixture. This stems from a time when herbs were extracted by soaking them in wine or spirits. Water and ethanol mixes are still the most common extraction method for tinctures and are now standard pharmaceutical practice. One important reason ethanol is used in the production of Weleda remedies is that ethanol is able to extract more active ingredients than other substances used for extraction (glycerin or water alone). With a wider range of active ingredients, the therapeutic activity is broader and the remedy is more effective. A second advantage of using alcohol for tinctures is that it acts as a preservative – bacteria, yeasts and molds generally do not grow in an ethanol concentration of around 20% or more. Another advantage of ethanol is that once it is ingested, it loses its preservative effect; therefore, it does not damage beneficial intestinal flora. The small amounts of ethanol
